Ralph McQuarrie

McQuarrie in 2008

Ralph Angus McQuarrie (June 13, 1929 – March 3, 2012) was an American costume designer and illustrator. He designed the original Star Wars trilogy, the original Battlestar Galactica TV series, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Cocoon, for which he won an Academy Award.

McQuarrie was born on June 13, 1929 in Gary, Indiana, a suburb close to Chicago, Illinois. He was raised in Billings, Montana. He was educated at the Art Center School. McQuarrie was married to Joan Benjamin from 1983 until his death in 2012. McQuarrie died on March 3, 2012 in Berkeley, California from Parkinson's disease, he was 82 years old.

Movies

• Star Wars (1977)
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
• Battlestar Galactica (1978)
• The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
• The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
• Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
• E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
• Return of the Jedi (1983)
• Cocoon (1985)
• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
• *batteries not included (1987)
• Back to the Future: The Ride (1991)

Ralph McQuarrie Media

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  Model of the Mother Ship from Close Encounters of the Third Kind, based on McQuarrie's design

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  McQuarrie's design brief specified samurai influences, such as this kabuto helmet

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  The final design of Darth Vader's helmet

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  2022-04-30 10-31-35 necro-Andelnans

Other websites

• Ralph McQuarrie on IMDb
• Official website
• The Art of Ralph McQuarrie
• Ralph McQuarrie Concept Sketches and Concept Paintings for Battlestar Galactica (1978)
• General McQuarrie action figure at Rebelscum.com
• McQuarrie Signature Series Concept "Starkiller" Hero (female) action figure
• Ralph McQuarrie obituary: Conceptual artist who brought Star Wars to life (Guardian article)