Leonard Engelman, Esteemed Makeup Artist for ‘Rocky IV’ and More, Dies at 83

Leonard Engelman, the renowned makeup artist known for his work on films such as Rocky IV, The Princess Diaries, Batman & Robin, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, has passed away at the age of 83. Engelman, who also worked with Cher for over three decades, died on Thursday at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, as confirmed by his wife of 42 years, artist Esther Engelman. The cause of death is currently unclear.

Son of a Hollywood makeup artist, Engelman spent many years advocating for the creation of a makeup branch within the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. His efforts paid off in 2006 when he was elected as its first governor, followed by a push to include hairstylists as well. He also served as an Academy vice president and board member for many years.

Throughout his career, Engelman garnered Emmy nominations for an episode of Night Gallery in 1972 and for the miniseries Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis in 2001, which starred Joanne Whalley. In 2017, he was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the Hollywood Makeup Artists & Hair Stylists Guild.

As Cher’s personal makeup artist, Engelman worked on numerous photo shoots and films including Moonstruck (1987), Suspect (1987), The Witches of Eastwick (1987), Mermaids (1990), Faithful (1996), Tea With Mussolini (1999), and Burlesque (2010). In a memorable moment at the 1988 Academy Awards, Cher thanked Engelman immediately after winning the best actress Oscar for her role in Moonstruck.

Over his 50-year career, Engelman also handled makeup for Sylvester Stallone on Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Rocky IV (1985), and Cobra (1986). He innovatively used silicon instead of rubber for facial appliances, which allowed for better absorption of perspiration, a technique he described in a 2019 interview.

Engelman also collaborated with Debra Winger on Betrayed (1988), Everybody Wins (1990), and Wilder Napalm (1993), as well as with Meg Ryan on Joe Versus the Volcano (1990), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Flesh and Bone (1993), and When a Man Loves a Woman (1994).

Born in Burbank on May 9, 1941, Leonard Alex Engelman was the son of a makeup artist, sharing the same name, who worked on numerous 1940s Westerns. His father passed away when Engelman was just 11 years old. Following his graduation from Burbank High School, Engelman landed a job at Universal Studios and received his first credit on Alfred Hitchcock’s Topaz (1969).

Engelman’s extensive resume also included films like The Black Stallion (1979), Cat People (1982), Ghostbusters (1984), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Twins (1988), The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990), Heat (1995), and Oz the Great and Powerful (2013), as well as TV shows such as Cagney & Lacey and The Shield.

In addition to his cinematic accomplishments, Engelman trained multiple generations of artists at the Cinema Makeup School in Los Angeles and was a cherished member of Local 706, the makeup and hairstylists guild, for over 50 years.

He is survived by his wife Esther, their children Steven, Kimberly, Anna, and Jennifer (who is also a makeup artist), and six grandchildren. Reflecting on his career, Engelman once said, “I was told when I was starting off as a makeup artist that if you were going to be really good, you had to learn everything, you had to learn beauty, all the characters, all the aging, all the hair work, all of the bruising, the prosthetics. I did everything I could to learn all of that.”n

Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline