Art Center’s “Star Wars” Genius Ralph McQuarrie Dies at 82

Ralph McQuarrie, the “man behind the Darth Vader mask” and graduate of Pasadena’s world famous Art Center College of Design, died March 3 at the age of 82.

McQuarrie is the illustrator whose designs gave birth to Star Wars’ Darth Vader, R2-D2, and C-3PO. He also did concept designs for Battlestar Galactica, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Cocoon, for which he won an Oscar.

“Ralph McQuarrie was the first person I hired to help me envision Star Wars,” said director George Lucas, who credits McQuarrie for helping him bring Star Wars to the big screen. “I will always remember him as a kind and patient, and wonderfully talented, friend and collaborator.”

Working on all three original Star Wars films, McQuarrie created the look, not only of the people but also the space ships. He started work on Star Wars in 1974, three years before the film’s release.

In an interview conducted several years ago, McQuarrie said, “I loved working there, and I met some interesting people who had been at the Art Center in LA. When I saw the paintings and drawings those guys were doing, I thought there was more to life than technical illustrating. So on the GI Bill I did five semesters at the Art Center.”