Mike Spatola: Emmy-Nominated Makeup FX Artist, Author, and Educator Behind Tales From the Crypt, Terminator 2, and More
Mike Spatola is a special effects makeup artist with more than 40 years of professional experience, over 100 film and television credits, two Emmy Award nominations, and multiple Cable ACE Award nominations. Though he’s spent much of his career working quietly behind the scenes, his work has been seen by millions – from HBO’s Tales from the Crypt to Terminator 2 to Iron Man 3.
The Haunted House That Launched a Hollywood Career
Mike’s first professional job came at age 16, when he began cranking out monster makeups at The Brigantine Castle – a five-story haunted castle amusement attraction in Brigantine, New Jersey. For six years, he worked under relentless pressure: up to 20 makeups to complete in just two hours, night after night.
That pace forged something most film school graduates never get: pure applied speed, instinct, and the ability to judge which effects need detail and which can be simplified for the lighting and distance involved. When Mike eventually made the move to Los Angeles, other artists were stunned by how fast he worked.
Breaking Into Hollywood: Stan Winston Studio and Edward Scissorhands
After six years in the haunted house business, Mike headed to Hollywood and landed work at the legendary Stan Winston Studio – one of the most prestigious special effects houses in the industry. There he worked on Edward Scissorhands (1990), where he was responsible for Winona Ryder’s old age makeup, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), one of the most technically demanding productions of its era.
Emmy Nominations: Tales from the Crypt and And the Band Played On
Mike earned his reputation in television with two of the most distinctive makeup challenges of his career.
HBO’s Tales from the Crypt became one of his most celebrated projects. As Makeup Effects Supervisor across multiple seasons (1991-92), he worked alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names – Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Hanks (who also directed an episode), and directors including William Friedkin (The Exorcist). His work on the series earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup.
His second Emmy nomination came for HBO’s And the Band Played On (1993), a landmark film about the AIDS epidemic. Mike considers this his finest nominated work – partly for its technical demands, partly for its significance. Real AIDS patients appeared alongside actors on set, and the makeup had to be so convincing that the doctors present couldn’t tell the two apart.
“I think And The Band Played On was the best work I was nominated for. It was one of my most important projects because of the social impacts and commentary the film makes.” – Mike Spatola
Over 100 Film and Television Credits
Mike’s career spans more than 100 productions across all budget levels, from low-budget horror to major studio blockbusters. Key credits include:
- Return of the Living Dead (1985) – Special Effects Makeup Artist
- Edward Scissorhands (1990) – Stan Winston Studio
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- HBO’s Tales from the Crypt (1991–92) – Special Effects Makeup/Department Head (Emmy nominated)
- And the Band Played On (1993) – (Emmy nominated)
- Gettysburg (1993)
- Stargate (1994) – Special Effects Makeup Department Head
- Predator 2
- Iron Man 3 (2013) – Shop Supervisor/Lead Artist, Makeup & Effects Labs
- Harbinger Down (2015) – Makeup Department Head
He also received multiple Cable ACE Award nominations for Best Makeup.
Chief Academic Officer and Textbook Author at Cinema Makeup School
Beyond his production career, Mike has been a central figure at Cinema Makeup School (CMS) in Los Angeles, one of the industry’s leading professional training institutions. He served for many years as its Chief Academic Officer, building out the school’s academic program from the ground up: writing the syllabus for most of its classes, hiring and scheduling instructors, teaching hands-on courses, and authoring the school’s official textbooks for Character Makeup, Prosthetic Makeup, and SFX Makeup. He continues to teach at CMS regularly.
The Monstrous Makeup Manual Series
In addition to his school textbooks, Mike authored the Monstrous Makeup Manual series – three practical, step-by-step instructional books aimed at both beginners and working professionals. Written with detailed photography and clear technique breakdowns, the books cover:
- Out-of-kit effects: rotten skin, wounds, scar wax, warts
- Prosthetics: sculpting, mold making, and application
- Airbrushing and body painting
- Advanced techniques: dentures, aliens, demons, zombies
- Haunted house makeup methods
The The Monstrous Makeup Manual Series have sold extremely well and are considered essential references in the SFX makeup community.
- The Monstrous Makeup Manual, Book 1
- The Monstrous Makeup Manual, Book 2
- The Monstrous Makeup Manual, Book 3
Links – Mike Spatola
- Facebook: Monstrous Makeup Manual on Facebook
- Instagram: @michaelspatola
- IMDB: Mike Spatola on IMDB