Al Schultz, who worked as a makeup artist for some of the top TV shows of the 1960s and ’70s and was married to Vicki Lawrence for five decades, has died. He was 82.
Schultz died June 19 at his home in Long Beach, California, according to his publicist. A cause of death was not given.
Schultz started his career in makeup in the mid-1960s. He was mentored by Harry Maret, who worked with the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Donna Reed and Doris Day. He began working at NBC on shows like Hollywood Squares and Laugh-In and segued to a job at The Dean Martin Show, where he worked with the Golddiggers.
His big break came in 1968, when the Makeup Artists Union sent him to CBS Television City. There, he was noticed by Carol Burnett as he was walking by her dressing room, sparking a partnership that lasted for a decade. As head of makeup for The Carol Burnett Show, Schultz was responsible for Burnett, Lawrence and other castmembers. It was while he was working on the show that he met and fell in love with Lawrence.
In 1972, Schultz was promoted to head of West Coast makeup at CBS, becoming the youngest ever to hold the position, at age 30. He was responsible for all CBS shows, including The Sonny and Cher Show along with Norman Lear’s All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Good Times and Maude. He also worked on The Merv Griffin Show, doing makeup for the guest stars.
He also did the makeup for Elvis Presley’s final television concert.
In the early ’80s, Schultz decided to step back from his demanding schedule to spend more time with Lawrence and their two children, Courtney and Garrett, and to manage Lawrence’s career.
Born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in 1942, Schultz was a college athlete, playing football at the University of Missouri until a knee injury ended his sports career. He then moved to Hollywood, initially working as a grip and camera dolly operator before finding his calling in makeup artistry.
He was passionate about sailboat racing and enjoyed spending time with Lawrence in Hawaii and at their Long Beach home. The couple would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Nov. 16.
