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Star Wars artist Ralph McQuarrie passes away

Star Wars artist Ralph McQuarrie passes away

TRIBUTES have been paid to the artist Ralph McQuarrie, who has passed away aged 82.

Mr. McQuarrie will be best remembered for his work on the Star Wars movie for the director George Lucas, who had asked him to design some of the characters and scenes for what was to become a blockbuster movie.

His work included creating the look of characters such as Darth Vader, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C3PO. He also designed a number of sets for the production.

George Lucas was among those to pay tribute to Mr. McQuarrie. 

He said: “His genial contribution, in the form of unequalled production paintings, propelled and inspired all of the cast and crew of the original Star Wars trilogy.”

The artist also appeared in the uncredited role of General Pharl McQuarrie in the sequel The Empire Strikes Back.

Mr. McQuarrie, who originally trained as a technical illustrator for the aviation industry, worked on other films. 

In 1985 he won an Academy Award for Visual Effects for the film Cocoon.

He also worked on Steven Spielberg’s ET and Encounters of the Third Kind for which he designed the alien spaceships.

To view an interview with Ralph McQuarrie, click here.

 

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