Leonard A. Engelman Jr.
Journeyman Make-Up Artist
It is with the heaviest of hearts that I share with you that we have lost the legendary Leonard A Engelman Jr. Husband, father, grandfather, friend, makeup artist, mentor to many and extraordinary at all.
Leonard became a makeup artist in his father’s footsteps. He started off as an apprentice at Universal Studios and became a member of Local 706 in 1963. Leonard was the youngest makeup artist to be nominated for an Emmy for "Night Gallery" and went on to have an epic career working with Farah Fawcett, Meg Ryan, Sylvester Stallone, Debra Winger, Julie Andrews,Chris O’Donnell, Val Kilmer and 33 years with Cher. Rocky IV, Rambo II, Sleepless in Seattle, Cat People, Princess Daisy, Ghostbusters (1984), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), The Witches of Eastwick, Moonstruck, Batman Forever and Burlesque were just a few of the films he worked on.
Leonard brought his passion, talent, good sense as well as sense of humor and dry wit to every project he worked on and with everyone he encountered right up until his last days. Leonard served on the Local 706 Executive Board for 3 separate terms and was elected Business Representative from 2001-2003.
Leonard was the first Governor of the Makeup and Hairstyling Branch and served as Vice President of the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences. He also created the Makeup and Hairstyling Symposium held before the Oscars each year.
Throughout his life and career, the most important things to Leonard were education for the next generations of Makeup Artists and Hairstylists. He always elevated our craft and profession. He was Director of Education at Cinema Makeup School where he mentored hundreds of up and coming Makeup Artists.
He was recognized for many of his accomplishments with 2 MUAHS Awards for his Makeup Artistry as well as a MUAHS Lifetime Achievement Award. He was loving and generous in everything he did. On a personal note, Leonard was dedicated to his wife and family. He became my stepdad in 1982. His training and guidance not only in our craft but the craft of life has helped me become the person I am today. I am ever grateful and proud to have had him in my life.
Leonard is survived by his wife, Esther Engelman, his kids, Steven Engelman and Kim Engelman, step kids, Anna Lipton and Local 706 Makeup Artist Jennifer Zide-Essex, grandkids, Alex Engelman, Adam Engelman, Charlie Santoyo, Colette Lipton, Laura Lipton and Brett Lipton.
Private Services will be held on August 23, 2024.
In lieu of flowers please donate to any of the following organizations. The Engelman Family thanks you.
AFI https://www.afi.com/support/
P.S.ARTS https://psarts.org/donate/
National Park Trust https://parktrust.app.neoncrm.com/forms/parktrust2022w
Wounded Warriors https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/
Action Against Hunger https://www.actionagainsthunger.org/
American Humane https://www.americanhumane.org/
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