He may not have been as well know to make-up effects fans as Rick Baker or Stan Winston, but Stuart Freeborn created some of the most iconic sci-fi makeups of all time, including Jedi Master Yoda and Han Solo's Wookie co-pilot, Chewbacca.
Freeborn already had a long career as a special effects make-up man, before Lucas came knocking on his door to help him bring his space opera vision to life. Working at Denham Studios in London for many years, Freeborn worked on such film classics as Oliver Twist, before branching out to work on such films as Bridge over the river Kwai, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Omen, and all four of the Superman films, as well as the original Star Wars trilogy.
For Star Wars, Freeborn created Jabba the Hutt, Bountry Hunter Greedo, and scores of aliens in the Cantina scene in episode 4, including Walrus man and snaggletooth. For The Empire Strikes Back, he helped bring the Tauntauns to life as well as the Wampa Ice Creatures.
Freeborn, a native Londoner, died on Tuesday, February 5th of natural causes.
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