Howard Smit

Howard J. Smit (April 19, 1911 – August 1, 2009) was a pioneering American film make-up artist known for his work on films including The Birds and The Wizard of Oz. Smit also spearheaded the movement to establish the Academy Award for Best Makeup to recognize the profession within the film industry. He also successfully pushed studios to credit film make-up artists in a movie's screen credits. He moved with his parents to Los Angeles, where he eventually enrolled in law school. as he was exiting a board meeting of the Make-up and Hairstylists Guild. Smit's assailant later shot and killed two Los Angeles police officers at the perpetrator's home. Smit recovered from the shooting. He continued to serve on the Make-up Guild for eight more years until his retirement in 1994.

He also developed a line of moisturizing cream which was sold in stores under the name, Stage Ten Cosmetics.

Death Howard Smit died at the Providence Tarzana Medical Center on August 1, 2009, in Tarzana, California, at the age of 98. His first wife, Edith Smit, whom he had been married to for more than 40 years, was a body make-up artist. Smit's second wife, Isabelle, died on June 26, 2009.

Funeral services were held at the Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.