Wednesday 8 October 2014

The Westmore Family

The Westmore Family


The Westmores where a pillar post for beauty and make up in Hollywood around the 1920's and had as many as 4 generations of make up artists, their patriarch being George Westmore, who fathered six legendary sons- Perc, Ern, Monte, Wally, Bud and Frank which all worked on famous hollywood film sets through the 1920/1930's and onwards.
George Westmore established Hollywood's first makeup department in 1917 which was in the American Motion Picture Company 'Selig Studios' and then as a family the Westmores went on to build their own salon "House of Westmore" which is based on Sunset Boulevard and has served many hollywood stars and the public as well. 

Around the year of 1926 Monte, Perc, Ern and Bud all became chief makeup artists at four major movie companies for beauty and horror films that went on to still be some of the most famous Hollywood films. Monte first made his debut as a makeup artist by becoming the sole makeup artist to famous actor of the 20's Rudolph Valentino who starred in roles for "The Son of Sheik" and "The Eagle", he also worked until his death on the film "Gone with the Wind" as hair stylist and makeup artist but was seen be uncredited in the film titles. 

Perc Westmore worked for over 27 years in the industry of hair and makeup and worked with some of the greater names in the business such as Charles Laughton for the character of Quasimodo in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)", he also worked closely with the Hollywood actress Bette Davis and help create the transformation into Queen Elizabeth I with whiten face, almost balding hairline and eyebrow less in the movie "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)" 

After doing some research I have also found out that the Westmore family have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame which is a massive achievement and help us to understand the true scale of their success as a family and individuals within the makeup and film industry.


The Westmore family tree and desendants.

Bette Davis in "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex" makeup by Perc Westmore


Charles Laughton as Quasimodo "Hunchback of Notre Dame" by Perc Westmore


The Westmore star on the Walk of Fame


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