Freeborn, makeup artist behind Yoda, dies at 98
Purchase this article for republication
Buy SPH photos
This Aug. 2, 2011 file photo shows a life-sized replica of Yoda, George Lucas' master of the Force, at Lucasfilm Ltd. production studios in San Francisco. Stuart Freeborn, a pioneering movie makeup artist behind creatures such as Yoda and Chewbacca in the Star Wars films, has died. He was 98. -- PHOTO: AP
LONDON (AP) - Stuart Freeborn, a pioneering movie makeup artist behind creatures such as Yoda and Chewbacca in the Star Wars films, has died. He was 98.
LucasFilm confirmed on Wednesday that Freeborn had passed away, "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 Star Wars.
"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."
