Phil Leakey
British make-up artist
About Phil Leakey
Lived 1908 – 1992 (aged 84). Phil Leakey was a British make-up artist.
Philip Leakey (4 May 1908 in London, England – 26 November 1992) was a British make-up artist known chiefly for his work on Hammer films. In 1956 he became the first make-up designer ever to receive on-screen credit for "special" make-up effects for his "bold and innovative" work in X the Unknown.
He provided Christopher Lee's celebrated makeup for Hammer's The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), whose "monster" had to be memorable and terrifying without infringing the copyright on Universal's earlier makeup, created by Jack Pierce for Boris Karloff.
Leakey created make-up for Dracula and The Revenge of Frankenstein (both 1958) before leaving Hammer, disgusted by the cost-cutting measure by Hammer's associate producer, Anthony Nelson Keys, of revoking his retainer. His assistant, Roy Ashton, took charge of Hammer make-up from then onwards.
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Important facts
People in Phil Leakey's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Phil Leakey's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Phil Leakey?
British make-up artist (1908-1992)
When was Phil Leakey born?
Phil Leakey was born on 4 May 1908 in London.
When did Phil Leakey die?
Phil Leakey died on 26 November 1992 in London.
What was Phil Leakey's occupation?
Phil Leakey was a make-up artist.
What nationality was Phil Leakey?
Phil Leakey was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Phil Leakey. https://biography.guide/phil-leakey/
MLA: "Phil Leakey." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/phil-leakey/.
Chicago: "Phil Leakey." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/phil-leakey/.
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