Ralph McQuarrie R.I.P.

Ralph MacQuarrie, Designer der ersten Star Wars-Trilogie, Kampfstern Galctica, E.T., Star Trek, Indiana Jones und anderen ist heute leider im Alter von 82 Jahren in Los Angeles verstorben. Ich hab’ R2 und D3 im Ralph-Designals Actionfiguren im Regal stehen und ich musste grade echt nicht nur drölf Tränen wegdrücken.

Der Mann hat mich nicht nur auf diesem Blog hier seit Jahren begleitet. Aus irgendeinem Grund stammend die zwei Flickr-Sets Namens „Ralph McQuarries Star Wars-Portfolio (1977)“ und „Ralph McQuarries Empire Strikes Back-Portfolio (1980)“ beide von mir. Als ich das grade bemerkt hatte (tatsächlich über ne Google-Suche), hab ich mir nochmal den Arsch weggeflennt. The Creator of Darth is dead.

Ralph war der Designer des legendären White Boba Fett. Ralph hat Darth Vader erschaffen und war der Designer von den AT-ATs und R2. Man, Death is a Bitch. I’d like some guys to live forever. Ralph is one of them.

Von Tor.com:

We are sad to report that concept art legend Ralph McQuarrie passed away today. McQuarrie was the designer of the original Star Wars movies, Battlestar Gallactica, ET, Star Trek and many other science fiction classics.

Arguably his most recognizable creation was the design for Darth Vader, (back when the movie was still called Adventures of Luke Starkiller.)

It is impossible to overstate the effect he has had on a generation of movie goers and how we see the future. Our thoughts are with the McQuarrie family and those closest to him.

Ralph McQuarrie, 1929–2012, hier seine offizielle Website: Ralphmcquarrie.com.

Vorher auf Nerdcore:
Custom Star Wars-Toys im Ralph McQuarrie-Design
Ralph McQuarrie Darth Vader-Helm
Ralph McQuarries Star Wars-Portfolios
Videomaterial von ursprünglich weißem Boba Fett
Auszeichnung für Ralph McQuarrie, Concept-Artist von Star Wars
Ralph McQuarries Concept-Art für Kampfstern Galactica (1978) und Star Wars

[update] Von George Lucas:

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of such a visionary artist and such a humble man. Ralph McQuarrie was the first person I hired to help me envision Star Wars. His genial contribution, in the form of unequaled 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.’

“Beyond the movies, his artwork has inspired at least two generations of younger artists—all of whom learned through Ralph that movies are designed. Like me, they were thrilled by his keen eye and creative imagination, which always brought concepts to their most ideal plateau. In many ways, he was a generous father to a conceptual art revolution that was born of his artwork, and which seized the imaginations of thousands and propelled them into the film industry. In that way, we will all be benefiting from his oeuvre for generations to come. Beyond that, I will always remember him as a kind and patient, and wonderfully talented, friend and collaborator.”