One of my first jobs in Los Angeles was at Brainstorm Media, a production/sales entity in Beverly Hills that would provide me with the initial taste of the Hollywood business.

Knowing I had a horror website, one of the executives there asked me if I wanted to attend a premiere for one of his friend’s genre films, which would end up being Robert Hall‘s directorial debut, the independent thriller Lightning Bug (2004).

I hit it off immediately with Rob, an incredibly gifted special effects makeup artist who founded Almost Human FX, and the more recent PostHuman FX. I spent a lot of time with him on sets and connected with his love of the genre. He was one of the very few people who welcomed me as a friend, and not someone they could use for coverage on Bloody Disgusting. He never talked about himself or boasted about his talents. He let his work do the talking for him. He was an extremely hard worker who brought his “A” game, even when he was on smaller projects like Room 6 or House of the Dead 2.

Rob was a huge part of the horror community who regularly invited people into his life and shared his success with them, often throwing house parties or even Halloween parties at his warehouse. Everyone loved being around him.

While Rob got his start in special effects makeup, he channeled his love for practical effects with his second feature, Laid to Rest, an absurdly violent slasher that starred his longtime friend Nick Principe as Chromeskull and ex-wife Bobbi Sue Luther. It would lead to a sequel, as well as the popular “Fear Clinic” series (and film) starring Robert Englund, and MTV’s “Teen Wolf”.

His talents can be seen all over the place, from The Island of Dr. Moreau to Wishmaster, “The X-Files”, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Firefly”, “Angel”, Dead Birds, Vacancy, Superbad, Prom Night, Pineapple Express, The Burrowers, Quarantine, “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”, The Crazies, Devil, Paranormal Activity 2 + 3 + 4, No One Lives, and The Collection, among many, many others.

I lost touch with Rob over the years, but he was an important part of my life and someone I think about often. I took him to see Metallica, he slathered me in zombie makeup. But it was more than that. A huge part of the Bloody Disgusting family can be traced back to those years I spent around Rob. When I look back and say, “Those were the times,” Rob is a centerpiece.

He will be missed greatly. Andrea and I send our thoughts and prayers to all of his friends and family.

Nick Principe offered the following statement to Bloody Disgusting:

“With an extremely heavy heart, it crushes me to announce that late afternoon on May 24th, my dearest friend and brilliant filmmaker Robert Hall has passed away in LA County.

“Official Cause of Death is presently unreleased and awaiting an autopsy.

“He leaves us with so many beautiful dark creations … too many to count. But his sly smile and big heart will be sorely missed.

“Chromeskull gave me a career in acting in films. Rob gave me Chromeskull. Everything I have is because of him.

“A memorial will be held in Los Angeles in the near future.”

Rob’s personal assistant Shaun Blayer shared the horrible news on Facebook last night.

“RIP ROBERT GREEN HALL.

“ONE OF THE BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS ARTIST AND DIRECTOR

“I LOVE YOU BROTHER. I LOVE YOU BROTHER

“I am Robert Hall’s Personal Assistant. I just heard my best friend, my brother from another mother PASSED AWAY today at 1pm. Not only was he a friend but the best damn boss. I helped him when he was down. He helped me so much when I was down.

“He’d ALWAYS make special visits to me. Always checked on me. He was such an amazing guy I am honored to have him as a boss. He picked me up and bought me business cards anything I needed.

“He ALWAYS ALWAYS made sure I been ok and always checked on me. That’s what a real friend is. I never cared how many films and tv shows he did. I cared about him as a person. I’m still in fuckin shock and don’t know how to handle this.

“RIP BROTHER. I FUCKIN MISS YOU

Shaun Blayer.”

From Alan Robert:

“I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Rob a few times over the years. He created some incredible makeup for my Wire Hangers graphic novel cover and most recently for Ghouliana from The Beauty of Horror in some commercials. We met over a decade ago through my buddy Nick Principe who played the iconic Chrome Skull from Rob’s Laid to Rest series. He was a true talent and had a huge heart. He will surely be missed. Gone too soon. Rest in peace, my friend.”