Conceptual designer Ralph McQuarrie, who created the looks behind Darth Vader, Cewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO died at his home Saturday in Berkeley, CA, BBC reports. He was 82. In addition to helping George Lucas create the Star Wars look, McQuarrie designed the original Battlestar Galactica television series, E.T., Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Jurassic Park and others. In 1986 he shared an Oscar win for Best Visual Effects for Cocoon. McQuarrie’s work with Star Wars may nevertheless be his most memorable. He worked as the conceptual designer on sequels The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi, but he later declined to work on the Star Wars prequels.
UPDATE: A notice on 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.’”


Star Wars would have been a much cooler film if it had more resembled McQuarrie’s drawings.
Truly the passing of an era. He leaves a legacy that many admire and hope to succeed.
One of a kind…Rest in Peace.
George Lucas. Ralph McQuarrie. John Williams.
These three individuals, in my mind, are the ones that greatly shaped and influenced the Star Wars Universe.
Like many others, I spent countless hours as a child looking at McQuarrie’s work; his images captivated my mind and imagination. He is greatly responsible for many aspects of Star Wars, with his visual style noted practically everywhere. He helped translate Lucas’ vision to the screen. Even as an adult today, I remain captivated by his work, and I can’t help myself as my imagine wonders off.
A talented artist, McQuarrie really brought attention to conceptual design work, and his spirit and style will live on, not only in the films, but in his own work as well.
And even though McQuarrie passed on working on the Prequels, his influence and style are still found in the films, and even in the Clone Wars TV series, as his art and concept work continues to be used. Books, comics, video games, and so forth, his contributions will continue in that galaxy far, far away.
Regardless of your feelings about George Lucas, or Star Wars in general, you have to admire and respect McQuarrie’s work. Some great stuff. He will be missed.
Catch a glimpse of him in a cameo as ‘General McQuarrie’ in The Empire Strikes Back, fyi.
He was a true master of his craft who inspired an entire generation of artists and filmmakers.
The world is a sadder place today.
God bless you, sir. The Force will be with you…always.
Lucas sold the idea of STAR WARS by using McQuarrie’s concept illustrations. The execs asked if he (lucas) could pull that off. “Yes.” Deal done!
Ralph Mcquarrie is Star Wars. Period. R.I.P.
Ahhhh Ahhh Ahhhhhh, Ahhhhh -Chewy
Translation -Rest In Peace, friend
Flat out LEGEND. My childhood was movies. To think of how many memorable images and lasting memories began with the stroke of Mr.McQuarrie’s paintbrush– what a legacy to have left. We should all be so lucky.
Genius.
1977 at the beach bored walked miles to the board walk to see star wars. 35 years later the sets look real. May God,s force be with you rip
Rest in peace. He had a beautiful sense of design.
Mmmooouuaaaarrrggghhhh!!!!
What isn’t often acknowledged is that not only did McQuarrie come up with the entire design for Darth Vader (which, it could be argued, if it had not been as compelling a character design, the subsequent films may not have bothered to make him such a pivotal character in spite of what some revisionists will wish you to believe) but he also designed most of the sets in his early paintings. He layed out the foundations for the Millennium Falcon, the X-Wings, the Y-wings, the rebel fighter uniforms, the Death Star (interiors and exteriors), Cloud City, the A.T.A.T. walkers – all of it first conceived by Mr. McQuarrie.
I agree with the above poster – he IS Star Wars and the prequels suffered greatly without his keen sense of culture, mechanical design, lived-in environments that were utile and flat-out cool on screen. A truly visionary artist.
I was lucky enough to meet Mr McQuarrie at a signing a few months prior to “Phantom Menace” being released. He was clearly suffering from Parkinson’s at that stage, spending nearly a minute signing his signature for my friend whilst steadying the pen with two hands. Nervous and wanting to break the ice, my friend blurted out “So are you working on the next Star Wars film?” Ralph looked up very slowly and gave him a withering stare. True story!
Great Artist, great technique. His legacy will live on!