Gregory Nicotero
Gregory Nicotero (born March 15, 1963) is an American special make-up effects creator, television producer, and director. His first major job in special effects makeup was on the George A. Romero film Day of the Dead (1985), under the tutelage of Romero and make-up effects veteran Tom Savini. In 1988, along with Robert Kurtzman and Howard Berger, he formed KNB EFX Group, a special make-up effects studio which has gone on to work on over 400 film and television projects.
Gregory Nicotero

Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Born
- 15 March 1963
- Birth Name
- Gregory Nicotero
- Birthplace
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
- Occupation
- * Director
- Known for
- The Walking Dead
- Nationality
- United States.
- Education
- Sewickley Academy.
- Honours
- Emmy Award, The George Pal Memorial Award and Time Machine Award.
- Languages
- English.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Gregory Nicotero (born March 15, 1963) is an American special make-up effects creator, television producer, and director. His first major job in special effects makeup was on the George A. Romero film Day of the Dead (1985), under the tutelage of Romero and make-up effects veteran Tom Savini. In 1988, along with Robert Kurtzman and Howard Berger, he formed KNB EFX Group, a special make-up effects studio which has gone on to work on over 400 film and television projects.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
Gregory Nicotero (born 1963) is an American actor, engineer and film director, among other activities. The actor was born in Pittsburgh. Gregory Nicotero studied at Sewickley Academy.
Languages used include English. The actor received Emmy Award, The George Pal Memorial Award and Time Machine Award.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Gregory Nicotero. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Evidence Panel
not yet certified
- Identity
- resolved
- Independent source families
- 0
- Admitted assertions
- 0
- Open conflicts
- 0
Authority files
wikidata · Q2633389
In this article
Biography
Biography
KNB has won numerous awards, including an Emmy Award in 2001 for their work on the 2000 Sci Fi Channel miniseries Frank Herbert's Dune and an Academy Award in 2006 for achievement in makeup for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He served as a senior producer/executive producer, special make-up effects supervisor, and primary director on the AMC TV series The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead. Nicotero has directed 37 episodes of The Walking Dead and is the creator of the webseries The Walking Dead: Webisodes.

Greg Nicotero speaking at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con International, for "The Walking Dead", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America · Greg Nicotero

Greg Nicotero speaking at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Fear the Walking Dead", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America · Greg Nicotero
Key facts
Key facts
• Born — 15 March 1963 • Birth Name — Gregory Nicotero • Birthplace — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. • Relatives — Frank Nicotero (cousin) • Occupation — * Director • SFX Artist • Producer • Known for — The Walking Dead • Years Active — 1985–present
Life and career
Life and career
• Illustration — Nicotero in October 2012. Nicotero claims he began taking an interest in special effects after viewing the film Jaws. He explains: "I kept thinking 'How the hell did they do that?! How'd they build a big giant shark that could eat people?!' So, between that movie, The Exorcist, Planet of the Apes, and of course all of the Universal horror movies [...] I think Jaws and then later Dawn of the Dead were pretty much the two movies that did it for me." Nicotero began his career working in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, learning the trade of special make-up effects, also known as prosthetic makeup, from Tom Savini, an award-winning special effects and makeup artist, and helping on films by director George A. Romero. While working on the 1985 Romero film Day of the Dead, he met Howard Berger, who would become one of his partners at KNB EFX Group. Nicotero relocated to Hollywood and moved in with Berger and Robert Kurtzman. He later worked as FX artist on the 2010 film Predators and created a classic predator figure for the film. Nicotero worked as special make-up effects supervisor, co-executive producer and occasional director for the TV series The Walking Dead, as well as acting in a few uncredited cameos. He was at San Diego Comic-Con for the show. He was a guest on Talking Dead on March 24, 2013, October 12, 2014, February 8, 2015, and February 14, 2016. He also supervises the make-up effects for Fear the Walking Dead. In 2011, Nicotero was interviewed for the 2012 zombie special effects book "Blood Splatter: A Guide to Cinematic Zombie Violence, Gore and Special Effects" by author Craig W. Chenery. He was a guest on the MythBusters Zombie Special on October 17, 2013. He designed a Leatherface skin for the 2023 game - The Texas Chain Saw Massacre that bears his name, known as "Nicotero Leatherface". It was released October 24, 2023. In 2025, Nicotero developed and hosted the reality television show Guts & Glory on Shudder.
Filmography
Filmography
Film performances • Year — Title — Notes • 1985 — Day of the Dead — Special makeup effects artist • 1985 — Invasion U.S.A. — Additional special effects makeup • 1987 — Creepshow 2 — Special effects • 1987 — Predator — Creature effects crew (uncredited) • 1987 — Evil Dead II — Special makeup effects unit crew • 1988 — Phantasm II — Special makeup effects constructor and special effects crew • 1988 — Monkey Shines — Special Makeup Effects Artist • 1989 — The — Special effects • 1989 — Intruder — Special Makeup Effects Artist • 1989 — DeepStar Six — Creature supervisor • 1989 — Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers — Special effects supervisor • 1990 — Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III — Makeup artist • 1990 — Tales from the Darkside: The Movie — Special makeup effects supervisor • 1990 — Bride of Re-Animator — Special makeup effects artist • 1990 — Misery — Special makeup effects artist • 1990 — Dances with Wolves — Buffalo effects supervisor • 1991 — The — Special makeup effects supervisor • 1992 — Army of Darkness — Special makeup effects • 1993 — Body Bags (TV film) — Special makeup effects • 1993 — Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday — Effects supervisor and special makeup effects artist • 1993 — Doppelganger — Special makeup effects • 1994 — Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings — Special makeup effects supervisor • 1994 — Pulp Fiction — Special makeup supervisor (uncredited) • 1994 — Wes Craven's New Nightmare — Special makeup effects • 1995 — Vampire in Brooklyn — Special makeup effects: puppeteer • 1995 — In the Mouth of Madness — Special makeup effects • 1995 — Lord of Illusions — Special makeup effects supervisor • 1996 — Eraser — Animatronic crocodiles supervisor • 1996 — From Dusk till Dawn — Makeup effects supervisor • 1996 — Scream — Special makeup effects supervisor • 1996 — Jingle All the Way — Turboman costume and special makeup effects • 1996 — Black Sheep — Puppeteer • 1997 — Spawn — Animatronic creature and special makeup effects • 1997 — Boogie Nights — Special makeup effects supervisor • 1997 — Wishmaster — Special makeup effects • 1997 — Scream 2 — Special makeup effects supervisor • 1998 — Vampires — Special makeup effects • 1998 — Very Bad Things — Supervisor • 1998 — The — Special makeup and creature effects • 1999 — The — Special makeup effects supervisor • 1999 — The — Special makeup effects supervisor • 1999 — House on Haunted Hill — Special makeup effects • 2000 — Little Nicky — Special makeup and creature effects supervisor • 2000 — Frank Herbert's Dune (TV miniseries) — Lead special effects supervisor • 2000 — The — Prosthetics and special makeup effects supervisor • 2000 — Unbreakable — Special makeup effects supervisor • 2001 — Spy Kids — Makeup effects supervisor and creature effects • 2001 — The — Special makeup effects artist • 2001 — Mulholland Drive — Special makeup effects artist • 2001 — Ghosts of Mars — Special makeup effects artist • 2001 — Thirteen Ghosts — Special makeup effects artist and supervisor • 2001 — Vanilla Sky — Special makeup effects supervisor • 2001 — Evolution — Supervisor • 2002 — The — Supervisor • 2002 — Minority Report — Special makeup effects artist (uncredited) • 2002 — Austin Powers in Goldmember — Character prosthetics supervisor Special makeup effects artist • 2002 — Vampires: Los Muertos — Special makeup effects supervisor • 2002 — The — Special makeup effects artist • 2002 — Murder by Numbers — Supervisor • 2002 — Bubba Ho-tep — Special effects makeup supervisor • 2003 — Cabin Fever — Special makeup effects supervisor • 2003 — Hulk — Animatronics effects supervisor/puppeteer • 2003 — Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over — Special effects makeup • 2003 — The — Special effects makeup • 2003 — Identity — Special makeup effects supervisor • 2003 — Once Upon a Time in Mexico — Special makeup effects supervisor • 2003 — Kill Bill: Volume 1 — Special effects makeup supervisor • 2004 — Kill Bill: Volume 2 — Special makeup supervisor • 2004 — Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed — Special makeup effects • 2004 — Riding the Bullet — Special makeup effects supervisor • 2004 — Ray — Special makeup effects supervisor • 2004 — Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events — Special effects supervisor • 2005 — Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist — Special makeup effects designer • 2005–2007 — Masters of Horror (TV series) — Special makeup effects artist • 2005 — Cursed — Additional special makeup effects supervisor Additional werewolf effects creator • 2005 — Sin City — Special makeup effects supervisor • 2005 — The — Special makeup effects artist, designer and creator • 2005 — The — Special makeup effects artist • 2005 — Land of the Dead — Special makeup effects supervisor • 2005 — The — Project supervisor • 2005 — Serenity — Special effects makeup supervisor • 2005 — Hostel — Special makeup effects designer and creator • 2005 — The — Special makeup and creatures • 2006 — The — Special makeup effects designer • 2006 — Poseidon — Makeup effects supervisor • 2006 — Desperation (TV film) — Special makeup effects supervisor • 2006 — Casino Royale — Effects supervisor • 2006 — The — Special makeup supervisor • 2006 — The — Special effects makeup • 2006 — Comedy Hell — Special makeup designer • 2006 — Dead and Deader — Additional special makeup effects • 2007 — Death Proof — Special makeup effects • 2007 — The — Special makeup effects designer • 2007 — Hostel: Part II — Special makeup effects designer and creator • 2007 — The — Supervisor: K.N.B. EFX Group, Inc. • 2007 — Spider-Man 3 — Special effects makeup • 2007 — Disturbia — Special makeup effects supervisor • 2007 — Grindhouse — Special makeup effects artist • 2007 — Transformers — Animatronics supervisor/puppeteer • 2007 — Underdog — Supervisor • 2007 — Diary of the Dead — Special effects makeup producer • 2007 — The — Creature effects • 2008 — Fear Itself — Special makeup effects artist • 2008 — Mirrors — Special makeup effects designer • 2010 — The — Special makeup effects • 2010 — Edge of Darkness — Special makeup effects • 2010 — Predators — Special makeup and creature effects • 2010 — The (TV miniseries) — Key special makeup effects supervisor (6 episodes) • 2010–2022 — The (TV series) — Special makeup effects • 2010 — Piranha 3D — Key special makeup effects supervisor • 2010 — The — Makeup effects • 2010 — The (short film) — Special makeup effects • 2011 — The (TV film) — Special makeup and creature effects • 2011 — Paul — Special makeup effects artist (uncredited) • 2011 — I Am Number Four — Special makeup creator/designer • 2011 — Water for Elephants — Key special makeup effects supervisor (uncredited) • 2011–2012 — Breaking Bad (TV series) — Special makeup effects (2 episodes) • 2011 — A — Key special makeup effects supervisor • 2012 — The — Special makeup effects • 2012 — The — Key special makeup effects supervisor • 2012 — Seven Psychopaths — Special make-up effects • 2012 — The — Special make-up effects • 2013 — Oz the Great and Powerful — Special make-up effects • 2013 — The — Special makeup effects artist • 2013 — Lone Survivor — Special make-up effects • 2014 — Transformers: Age of Extinction — Special effects makeup supervisor • 2015 — Fear The Walking Dead — Special make-up effects • 2015 — The — Special make-up effects • 2016 — Suicide Squad — Special make-up effects • 2019 — Once Upon a Time in Hollywood — Makeup effects designer and supervisor • TBA — Twilight of the Dead — Special make-up effects
Actor
Actor
• The Walking Dead • 1.3 "Tell It to the Frogs" (uncredited) as Walker Eating Deer • 1.4 "Vatos" (uncredited) as Walker biting Amy • 3.9 "The Suicide King" (uncredited) as Walker in Woodbury • 6.3 "Thank You" (uncredited) as Walker in herd • 11.24 "Rest in Peace" (uncredited) as Walker in final scene before epilogue • Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th (2013) (Documentary film) as Himself • The Grey (2011) as Duke Chavis • Piranha 3D (2010) as Boat Captain • His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th (2009) (Documentary film) as Himself • Inglourious Basterds (2009) (uncredited) as Gestapo Major • Gingerdead Man 2: Passion of the Crust (2008) as Makeup Effects Guy #3 • Diary of the Dead (2008) as Zombie Surgeon • Cemetery Gates (2006) as Stoner Dude Michael • The Hills Have Eyes (2006) as Cyst • Land of the Dead (2005) as Bridgekeeper Zombie • Cursed (2005) (uncredited) as Man pushing Dracula's coffin • House on Haunted Hill (1999) (uncredited) as Rollercoaster technician • From Dusk till Dawn (1996) as Sex Machine's Buddy • The Demolitionist (1995) as Elevator Punk • Body Bags (1993) (TV) as Man with Dog • Intruder (1989) as Townie in Car • Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) (uncredited) as Guy in Gas Station • Night of the Creeps (1986) (uncredited) as Extra • Day of the Dead (1985) as Johnson
Director
Director
• The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (2024) • 2.01 "La Gentillesse des Étrangers" • The Walking Dead (2011–2022) (37 episodes) • 2.11 "Judge, Jury, Executioner" • 3.05 "Say the Word" • 3.11 "I Ain't a Judas" • 3.15 "This Sorrowful Life" • 4.01 "30 Days Without an Accident" • 4.09 "After" • 4.15 "Us" • 5.01 "No Sanctuary" • 5.09 "What Happened and What's Going On" • 5.12 "Remember" • 5.16 "Conquer" • 6.01 "First Time Again" • 6.09 "No Way Out" • 6.12 "Not Tomorrow Yet" • 6.16 "Last Day on Earth" • 7.01 "The Day Will Come When You Won't Be" • 7.02 "The Well" • 7.09 "Rock in the Road" • 7.12 "Say Yes" • 7.16 "The First Day of the Rest of Your Life" • 8.01 "Mercy" • 8.03 "Monsters" • 8.09 "Honor" • 8.12 "The Key" • 8.16 "Wrath" • 9.01 "A New Beginning" • 9.05 "What Comes After" • 9.09 "Adaptation" • 9.16 "The Storm" • 10.01 "Lines We Cross" • 10.02 "We Are the End of the World" • 10.12 "Walk with Us" • 10.16 "A Certain Doom" • 11.05 "Out of the Ashes" • 11.06 "On the Inside" • 11.17 "Lockdown" • 11.24 "Rest in Peace" • The Walking Dead: The Oath (2013) (3 webisodes) • The Walking Dead: Cold Storage (2012) (4 webisodes) • The Walking Dead: Torn Apart (2011) (6 webisodes) • The United Monster Talent Agency (2010) (short film)
Identity
Identity
Gregory Nicotero is recorded with the occupation make-up artist. Recorded with the occupation film director. Recorded as make-up artist, actor, film director, screenwriter and film producer. Established in Bibliothèque nationale de France under 14124726w. Established in Library of Congress under no2019131145.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1963
Gregory Nicotero was born on 15 March 1963.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Jeffries, Stuart. God of gore: the effects legend behind Reservoir Dogs and The Walking Dead spills his secrets. The Guardian. 2016-02-29. 0261-3077.
- 2.Lion's Gate Films. Quentin Tarantino Presents Eli Roth's Hostel.
- 3.Oscars.org. Oscar Wins.
- 4.Cline, Elizabeth. Dispatches From the Set - Special FX Makeup Artist and Co-Executive Producer Greg Nicotero. AMC. July 30, 2012.
- 5.BD. Fear The Walking Dead: Special FX Makeup Artist and Co-Executive Producer Greg Nicotero. July 30, 2012.
- 6.Fangoria. THE WALKING DEAD, entitled "Counter" and directed by series MVP Greg Nicotero. July 30, 2012.
- 7.iconsoffright.com. Greg Nicotero Interview.
- 8.IMDb. Awards.
- 9.theofficialjohncarpenter.com. John Carpenter: Bios: KNB EFX Group.
- 10.DreadCentral. More on The Walking Dead: First Production Photo and Zombie School Video. October 2012.
- 11.BloodyDisgusting. Classic Predator Featured in Special KNB Q+A in Louisville. 17 May 2010.
- 12.DreadCentral. Classic Predator to Return in Predators? Hell Yes!. 17 September 2012.
- 13.DreadCentral. Greg Nicotero Talks The Walking Dead. 8 October 2012.
- 14.DreadCentral. SD Comic-Con '10: Get Zombified and Catch a Sneak Peek of The Walking Dead.
- 15.Season 3, Episode 15 Talking Dead
- 16.BD. Fear the Walking Dead. 26 March 2015.
- 17.craigwchenery.
- 18."MythBusters" Zombie Special (TV Episode 2013).
- 19.Ross, Dalton. New horror reality series Guts & Glory secretly filmed on Walking Dead sets. Entertainment Weekly. October 14, 2025.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
institutional register
Wikidata, structured authority record Q2633389: Gregory NicoteroWikimedia Foundation
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Film memorabilia
37,408 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Gregory ItzinPerson
- Gregory J. ReadPerson
- Gregory JacobsPerson
- Gregory MonroPerson
- Gregory PeckPerson
- Gregory RatoffPerson
- Gregory SierraPerson
- Gregory SmithPerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Gregory Nicotero?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.