The man responsible for the look behind the original Star Wars films passed away on Saturday. Ralph McQuarrie, who was born in 1929, was a visionary and created the designs for many of the notable characters in the Star Wars universe; including Darth Vader, Chewbacca, and the original concept for the female protagonist of the film, Starkiller. (Yes folks, Lucas initially intended for Luke to be a girl, and Han a nondescript green alien!). In addition to Star Wars, Ralph McQuarrie worked on the original Battlestar Galactica, Indiana Jones, E.T., and Cocoon, which earned him an Academy Award for Visual Effects.

Ralph MQuarrie passed away at his home in Los Angeles, California at the age of 82.

McQuarrie’s work has been collected in The Illustrated Star Wars Universe and The Art of Ralph McQuarrie. Some of his more notable work is available online at The Art of Ralph McQuarrie website.

[Via The Art of Ralph McQuarrie | Picture Source: Royce Eddington (CC)]