McQuarrie, designer of Star Wars look, dies at 82

BERKELEY, Calif. - Ralph McQuarrie, the artist who developed the look of the first Star Wars trilogy's signature characters, sets and spaceships, has died. He was 82.

McQuarrie's death Saturday at his Berkeley home was announced on his official website and Facebook page. John Scoleri, co-author of a book on McQuarrie's art, told the Los Angeles Times that McQuarrie had suffered from Parkinson's disease.

In a statement on the official Star Wars website, George Lucas said McQuarrie was the first person he hired to help him envision what would become some of the top-grossing movies of all time.

McQuarrie's original concepts included the look of some of pop culture's most recognizable characters, including Darth Vader, C-3P0 and R2-D2. He also created the look of the Stormtroopers and the lightsaber.