George Lucas hat Star Wars zwar erfunden, aber Ralph McQuarrie hauchte dem Projekt Leben ein. In vielerlei Hinsicht ist er der eigentliche Erfinder. Erst durch seine Konzeptzeichnungen wurde 20th Century Fox davon überzeugt, diesem jungen Filmemacher Lucas viel Geld für seinen verrückten Film zu geben. Gestern ist Ralph McQuarrie im Alter von 82 Jahren nach einem erfüllten Leben gestorben.

McQuarrie arbeitete auch an E.T., Indiana Jones, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Battlestar Galactica, Zurück in die Zukunft, Total Recall oder Cocoon, für den er sogar den Oscar erhielt. Berthold Brecht schrieb einmal, dass der Mensch ist erst wirklich tot, wenn niemand mehr an ihn denkt. Ralph McQuarrie ist unsterblich.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of such a visionary artist and such a humble man. Ralph McQuarrie was the first person I hired to help me envision Star Wars. His genial contribution, in the form of unequaled production paintings, propelled and inspired all of the cast and crew of the original Star Wars trilogy. When words could not convey my ideas, I could always point to one of Ralph’s fabulous illustrations and say, ‘Do it like this.’

“Beyond the movies, his artwork has inspired at least two generations of younger artists—all of whom learned through Ralph that movies are designed. Like me, they were thrilled by his keen eye and creative imagination, which always brought concepts to their most ideal plateau. In many ways, he was a generous father to a conceptual art revolution that was born of his artwork, and which seized the imaginations of thousands and propelled them into the film industry. In that way, we will all be benefiting from his oeuvre for generations to come. Beyond that, I will always remember him as a kind and patient, and wonderfully talented, friend and collaborator.” –George Lucas