Sunday, March 4, 2012

Star Wars Artist Ralph McQuarrie Dies at 82

George Lucas did not do it alone.  Conceptual designer and illustrator Ralph McQuarrie has died.  He is best known for his work on the original Star Wars trilogy.  In 1975, George Lucas hired McQuarrie to illustrate scenes from his Star Wars script, and McQuarrie also designed many of the characters, including Darth Vader, R2-D2, and C-3PO.

McQuarrie did design and concept work for some of Steven Spielberg's films, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Jurassic Park.  McQuarrie won an Oscar for best visual effects for his work on the film Cocoon.

McQuarrie was born on June 3, 1929 in Gary, Indiana, and passed away Saturday, March 3, 2012 at his home in Berkeley, California.  R.I.P. Mr. McQuarrie.  You work continues to inspire me.


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