Star Wars Figures Designer Has Died

Posted: Mar 05 2012

HOLLYWOOD – Monday March 5 2012 marks a sad day for Star Wars fans. The spiritual father of Chewbacca, Darth Vader, R2-D2 and C-3PO had died. He was 82 years young.

Ralph McQuarrie, who designed the characters that turned Star Wars into an epic movie series, was the first person hired by George Lucas, producer and director of the immensely popular films.

“Every time I couldn’t express my ideas into words I could count of Ralph’s fantastic illustrations and say ‘like that’,” said Lucas.

Ralph McQuarrie drawning for Star Wars movies. Photo Credit: Photo News

Lucas said McQuarrie was a visionary artist and a humble man.

“His ingenious contributions in the form of unequaled drawings inspired the entire cast and crew of the original Star Wars trilogy,” said Lucas during an interview with CNN.

In 1980 Lucas honored McQuarrie by introducing him as General Pharl McQuarrie in de film ‘The Empire Strikes Back’. McQuarrie was allowed to play the role himself and briefly appeared in the movie.

Ralph McQuarrie also contributed his drawing talents to many other movies. In 1985 he received a Oscar for ‘Best Special Effects’ in the film ‘Cocoon’.

McQuarrie was also the person that designed the spaceships in the movies ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ and ‘E.T.’.

Ralph McQuarrie was born in Indiana on June 13 1929 but spent most of his life in California.

Early on in his career, he worked as a technical drawing expert for Boeing Corp. Afterwards he began drawing movie posters. McQuarrie got involved with big Hollywood productions in the 1970s.

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