DollMaker Noel Cruz

It was when he re-painted Angelina Jollie that made DollMaker Noel Cruz famous. When it appeared on ebay, people made a buzz and people wanted to know who made the $3,500 worth doll.

Cruz arrived to the U.S. about 20 years ago, lost, broke and — more importantly — without the proper paper work to get a job. He was an undocumented immigrant who had left the Philippines so he could reunite with his wife and young son, who were already in the U.S.

Cruz encountered repainting dolls by accident. He said he was trying to locate a certain doll for his wife, an avid doll collector, when he ran into a repainted doll on Ebay. He decided that he could do better. That's where repainting comes in. Cruz starts with a factory doll, and then removes the painted makeup, hair, and clothes. He studies photos of the actor in question before meticulously repainting the figurine using acrylics.

Collectors have embraced Cruz and consider his work as a piece of art. Cruz has sold "well over 400 custom painted dolls" Below are some of his work.