The Man Behind Yoda, Stuart Freeborn, Passes Away
by Shannon Keirnan
Freeborn was 98. According to his granddaughter Michelle Freeborn, Freeborn “died Tuesday in London from a combination of ailments due to his age.”
"He was a really fun and imaginative individual. He gave you the feeling that if you wanted to achieve something, you should just get on and do it, and don't ever use excuses,” Michelle said of her grandfather. “He enjoyed life and the amazing world we live in."
In a statement, George Lucas said that Freeborn was “already a makeup legend” when he was hired for “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."
Freeborn also created the apes for the initial “Dawn of Man” sequence within “2001: A Space Odyssey,” worked on Peter Sellers in “Dr. Strangelove,” and Christopher Reeve in the four “Superman” films.
Freeborn was born 1914 and began his career in the 1930’s. He worked with stars like Marlene Dietrich and Vivien Leigh before taking a break from his career to join the Royal Air Force during World War II before he re-entered the film industry to work on flicks like “Oliver Twist” and “The Great Muppet Caper.”
Condolences go out to Freeborn’s family and friends in their time of loss.