Buzz
Dated January 31, 1984, the silent behind-the-scenes footage reveals makeup artists perfecting John Matuszak’s latex mask and asymmetrical eyes, with the actor blinking his prosthetic eye. Throughout the film, Matuszak could only see through one eye, yet he appeared unfazed, even smiling through his artificial jagged teeth after the makeup was complete. The movie premiered on June 7, 1985.
Sloth, known for his love of Baby Ruth and his unrecognizable appearance compared to Matuszak, became an iconic figure of the 1980s. In The Goonies, he rescued Sean Astin and his friends from The Fratellis, a family of criminals led by Sloth’s mother and his quarreling brothers.
In a 2010 clip from The Goonies—Making of a Cult Classic, director Richard Donner detailed the process, describing the daily five-hour makeup routine. He affectionately referred to the 6’7”, 300-pound former football player as “a sweet, gentle lion” and praised the makeup application as “extraordinary.”
Donner recalled, 'During the water scene where the kids first spot the ship, I warned them, ‘Whatever happens, don’t let John’s makeup get wet, or it’ll be ruined.’' Despite the warning, the kids accidentally soaked John’s makeup, but he took it in stride without any anger.
Sloth’s intimidating appearance raised a challenge: how to make such a grotesque character believable. Donner explained, 'He had to believe it himself, and everyone around him had to believe it too. I fully believed Mama gave birth to him, and I truly believed Chunk fell in love with him.'
Tragically, Matuszak passed away on June 17, 1989, merely four years after The Goonies debuted. His death resulted from an accidental overdose of Darvocet, a now-banned opioid, compounded by an enlarged heart. He was only 38, but his contribution to pop culture remains timeless.
