Joel Grey Helped to Create the Emcee’s Look
One of the most important characters in Cabaret is the Master of Ceremonies or Emcee, played by Joel Grey both in the 1966 musical and the 1972 film. The Emcee is immediately recognizable with his distinctive look, including slick black hair, pink bow tie, and dramatic makeup.
Joel Grey as Emcee in ‘Cabaret,’ 1972. Photo by Moviestore Collection / Shutterstock
Interestingly, as well as making the character his own through his acting and singing work, Grey also helped to create the Emcee’s look. In ‘The Making of Cabaret,’ a documentary looking at how the musical was made, it was revealed invented the white-face and pink-cheek appearance of his character, discovering a greasepaint called ‘Juvenile Pink’ and deciding it was just right for the role.