Acclaimed British makeup artist Stuart Freeborn has passed away at 98. Among Mr. Freeborn’s greatest accomplishments were his designs for such iconic characters as Yoda and Chewbacca. He also contributed to the operation of Jabba the Hutt. George Lucas issued a statement soon after learning of his passing: “Stuart was already a makeup legend when he started on Star Wars. He brought with him not only decades of experience, but boundless creative energy. 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.”

Other seminal motion pictures Mr. Freeborn worked on include Kubrick classics 2001: A Space Odyssey and Dr. Strangelove, along with The Omen and The Great Muppet Caper.

Our best wishes go to his family and friends.