Bob Kelly - 1923-2011

In Memory of Bob Kelly 1923-2011

Bob Kelly was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1923, four years before the founding of Mehron Makeup. The curtain closed for this 87 year old legendary Wig Maker and Makeup Artist in Nyack, New York on April 18, 2011. Following in the footsteps of his Irish Grandfather, who immigrated to the United States to ply his trade as a wig maker, Bob Kelly was an apprentice to Ira Senz, who was touted as a Master Wig Maker. After returning home from World War II with two Bronze Service Stars, Bob Kelly, then in his twenties, began doing Makeup for the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, NY, home to Mehron Makeup and supplier of many specialty Makeup Products to the Metropolitan Opera, Broadway Shows, Film and Television Studios.

In the early days of prime time Television, Bob Kelly was the Makeup Artist for The Phil Silvers Show, a Television situation comedy hit show at CBS. Bob Kelly practiced his trade as a Makeup Artist from early mornings, he was the Makeup Artist for the hit children's show, Captain Kangaroo, to late night, working for live prime time television. As a New York based Makeup Artist Mr. Bob Kelly was a part of the cultural transformation that occurred in 1964 when he did the Makeup and Hair for the first appearance of The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show.

In the 1950's Bob founded Bob Kelly Wig Creations in Midtown Manhattan and later Bob Kelly Cosmetics, both with offices across the Street from another New York Makeup icon, Mehron Melik, founder of Mehron Makeup. Bob Kelly was a frequent visitor to Mehron Makeup and chatted for hours with Mr. Melik, sharing Makeup secrets, seeking advise and exploring ideas about Makeup innovation and application.

With Mehron supplying Theatrical Makeup to Theaters on and off Broadway, Bob Kelly was the Makeup Artist for Broadway hits that included, South Pacific, and West Side Story. Bob Kelly, Wig Maker, and Makeup Artist was a fixture on Broadway, even working on the Disney Production, Beauty and the Beast, and after his retirement in 2008 he made the wigs for Shrek, The Musical, for which Mehron developed a special Ogre Green Makeup.

The body of makeup work by Bob Kelly has been enjoyed by decades of Television Viewers and Theater goers, and like most Makeup Artists, he was invisible to the public. For thirty years, Bob Kelly supplied the wigs and makeup for one of Television's most enduring late night shows, Saturday Night Live unbeknownst to its audience as it enjoyed the characters he created.

During his visits to Mehron located across the street from his own Makeup Company offices, Mr. Kelly became interested in buying Mehron and although tempted, Mehron Melik declined his offer. He instead opted to pass the reins of Mehron Makeup to his son, Martin Melik, the current President of Mehron Makeup, who continues the innovation and introduction of Makeup Products that was his Father's passion for over fifty years.

In the world of Makeup, Bob Kelly was a giant, whose contributions are incalculable to the stage and television studios of the last five decades and to the art of Makeup Application. As a friend, contemporary and competitor, Bob Kelly will be missed by Mehron and all the lives that this unique person touched throughout his time on earth.