Stuart Freeborn, the British pioneering movie makeup artist behind creatures such as Yoda and Chewbacca in the Star Wars films, has died. He was 98.
LucasFilm confirmed Wednesday that Freeborn had died, “leaving a legacy of unforgettable contributions”.
Star Wars director George Lucas said in a statement that Freeborn was “already a makeup legend” when he started working on the space epic.
“He brought with him not only decades of experience but boundless creative energy,” Lucas said. “His artistry and craftsmanship will live on forever in the characters he created. His Star Wars creatures may be reinterpreted in new forms by new generations but at their heart they continue to be what Stuart created for the original films.”
The end of an era. His creations will certainly go on and be remembered for many, many years to come.