A pioneer of visual effects and an inspiration for the wizards at Industrial Light and Magic, VFX pioneer Douglas Trumbull has passed away aged 79. His work on Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Blade Runner set new standards for visual effects work, but it’s for 2001: A Space Odyssey that he will be best remembered, a film that was every bit the visual mega leap that Star Wars would be almost decade later.
Visual effects pioneer Douglas Trumbull, one of the masterminds behind the visual effects on some of the most visually audacious science fiction films of all time, including “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “Blade Runner,” died Monday. His daughter Amy wrote on Facebook. that he had cancer, a brain tumor and a stroke. He was 79.
“My sister Andromed and I got to see him on Saturday and tell him that he love him and we got to tell him to enjoy and embrace his journey into the Great Beyond,” she wrote.
Trumbull also oversaw the visual effects on “Silent Running,” “The Andromeda Strain” and “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” and he directed eco-sci-fi film “Silent Running” and Natalie Wood-starring “Brainstorm.”
He shared Oscar nominations for best visual effects for “Close Encounters,” “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” and “Blade Runner.”
Condolences from Fantha Tracks to his family, friends, colleagues and all he inspired.
