Interview: Vincent Van Dyke on the Science of Prosthetic Work in ‘The Sympathizer’

The limited series The Sympathizer, based on the novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen, chronicles the extraordinary story of the Captain (Hoa Xuande), a North Korean spy during the Vietnam war who comes to the United States. Opposite Xuande’s is Robert Downey Jr. playing multiple parts, completely unrecognizable thanks to the remarkable prosthetic work by Vincent Van Dyke.

Awards Buzz spoke with Van Dyke about how he got started with Downey and what went into the looks he built. Watch the video above to learn his take on less noticeable prosthetics and also the wealth of other projects he’s worked on this season alone, including Fallout and Manhunt.

Vincent Van Dyke is eligible for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup at this year’s Emmy Awards. All seven episodes of The Sympathizer are available to stream on Max.