Jim Gillespie(1948-2009)

Jim got his start in his hometown of Hazleton Pennsylvania when Paramount Studios came into Hazleton to film 'The Molly McQuires' with Richard Harris, Sean Connery, Samantha Eggar and others as well as the famous make-up artist Wally Westmore of the famous Westmore Brothers of Hollywood. Everyday Jim would go up to Westmore and ask him to teach him make-up. Westmore would always tell him that he has all the people he needs and does not have the time to teach him. After "bothering" him for over thirty days, Westmore told him he could hang around and watch. Jim did that of course. After a few days Westmore would give Jim simple things to do such as cut white foam sponges, put powder on the powder puffs. After a couple of weeks Jim was applying bases on the actors faces. About one week before the movie was going to end, Westmore gave Jim his business card. He had told Jim if ever he was in Los Angeles to look him up and he would teach him all he knew about make-up. Jim took the card and walked 9 miles home where he took a shower, got dressed and put a one dollar bill into his pocket and told his mother he was going to meet some friends. Jim went downtown and started to hitch a ride to California. His first ride took him 50 miles away to Allentown, Pennsylvania. By the time he got to Pittsburg Jim had spent the complete one dollar bill. He kept going and after 13 days he was walking down Hollywood Blvd. He asked someone how to get to the address that was on the business card and he hitched a ride to the address. He knocked at the door and the woman who answered the door told Jim that Westmore was still in Pennsylvania because the movie went over 3 weeks. With no place to go, Jim ended up at the Famous Venice Beach where he "lived" for 3 weeks. Jim went back to the address, knocked at the door and Westmore answered the door and was amazed. He taught Jim all he knew until his death in 1973. During that time Jim befriended Richard Harris and Sean Connery as well as Malachy McCourt the famous Irish Actor. Samantha Eggar and Jim still remain friends since the filming of 'The Molly McQuires'. Jim is very well known for his burns, cuts etc which look so real he has had actors go into the hospital and the doctors would actually try to treat the wounds. Jim is a very funny man who loves to make people laugh and actors and actresses love working with him.