RIP: Ralph McQuarrie (1929-2012)
http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2012/03/03/star-wars-concept-artist-ralph-mcquarrie-has-died/
McQuarrie’s official web site posted the message of his passing today, but no cause of death was given, although he had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Every Star Wars fan is aware of the influence McQuarrie’s art had on making the franchise what it is, especially since he was the person who designed iconic characters like Darth Vader and Chewbacca. When Star Wars creator George Lucas was first shopping his space opera around Hollywood it was met with rejection, as studios could not envision what Lucas had in mind. That’s when the filmmaker hired McQuarrie to do concept art for his movie. According to McQuarrie’s site, when Lucas “made his pitch to Alan Ladd Jr. at 20th Century Fox he did so with a table full of Ralph’s art” and Fox is the studio that gave Lucas and Star Wars the green light.
http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2012/03/03/star-wars-concept-artist-ralph-mcquarrie-has-died/
McQuarrie’s official web site posted the message of his passing today, but no cause of death was given, although he had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Every Star Wars fan is aware of the influence McQuarrie’s art had on making the franchise what it is, especially since he was the person who designed iconic characters like Darth Vader and Chewbacca. When Star Wars creator George Lucas was first shopping his space opera around Hollywood it was met with rejection, as studios could not envision what Lucas had in mind. That’s when the filmmaker hired McQuarrie to do concept art for his movie. According to McQuarrie’s site, when Lucas “made his pitch to Alan Ladd Jr. at 20th Century Fox he did so with a table full of Ralph’s art” and Fox is the studio that gave Lucas and Star Wars the green light.
