Planet of the Apes Prosthetic Mask

Planet of the Apes Prosthetic Mask

This latex mask, designed by Hollywood makeup artist John Chambers, took five hours each day to apply to actor Maurice Evans. He had honed his skills during World War II, crafting replacement ears, noses, chins, and limbs for wounded veterans.

Chambers also secretly helped the CIA develop its disguise capabilities. Using his innovations, the CIA conducted disguise operations in hostile Cold War environments. Chambers was awarded the CIA Intelligence Medal of Merit in the early 1980s for his part in the successful exfiltration of six Americans from Tehran in 1980 during the Iranian hostage crisis. This operation was dramatized in the 2012 movie Argo.