Ralph McQuarrie, a conceptual designer and illustrator, who designed the original Star Wars trilogy, has passed away at his home on Saturday in Berkeley, CA. He was 82. He is survived by his wife Joan.
McQuarrie was the person who has influenced film for decades and is the man behind some of the most iconic cinematic science fiction creations of all time.
The conceptual designer McQuarrie created the looks behind Darth Vader, Cewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO. He designed the original Battlestar Galactica television series, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Raiders of The Lost Ark, Jurassic Park and others. The conceptual artist won an Academy Award for film Cocoon for Visual Effects in 1985.
A notice from McQuarrie’s website reads: “It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the passing of Ralph McQuarrie. People say you should never meet your heroes. Ralph was the exception to that rule. We were all fans of his amazing art long before we were blessed with his friendship. But once you got to know Ralph it was impossible not to become a fan of Ralph the man. His influence on design will be felt forever. There’s no doubt in our hearts that centuries from now amazing spaceships will soar, future cities will rise and someone, somewhere will say… ‘that looks like something Ralph McQuarrie painted.”’ George Lucas commented after McQuarrie’s death: “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. When words could not convey my ideas, I could always point to one of Ralph’s fabulous illustrations and say, ‘do it like this’.”
