I have a bit of unfortunate news to report. Academy Award winning special effects and make-up artist Stan Winston died last night. Winston is best known for his work in the Terminator series (Winston designed the original Terminator Endoskeleton), Jurassic Park, Aliens, Predator, and Edward Scissorhands. A frequent collaborator of James Cameron, they co-founded Digital Domain in 1993. Winston was the second special effects artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Winston also worked on The Thing, Friday the 13th Part III, Alien Nation, The Monster Squad, Pumpkinhead, Interview with the Vampire, Congo, The Island of Doctor Moreau, Small Soldiers, Pearl Harbor, AI: Artificial Intelligence, Big Fish, Constantine, Batman Returns and Iron Man. His work will be seen in upcoming films: Black Mountain, James Cameron’s Avatar, and Terminator 4.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Very Sad news indeed. Hopefully whatever work he did for Avatar and other upcoming films where he worked is amazing and win stuff just for him.
R.I.P.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Sad news…
June 16th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
The man was a legend and he will be terribly missed.
RIP Stan.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
:-(
June 16th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
:(
rip.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
R.I.P Stan
Very sad news indeed.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
no! his sfx work and creations are the reason why i’m such a sci-fi film geek today. i guess all we can do is say is thank you for being such a visionary. you have truly created movie history and the magic you brought to the screen will carry on for ages.
well done Mr. Winston.
RIP
June 16th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
RIP, Stan.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
A very sad day, he truly was a legend, in my opinion one of the best creative minds in movie history. You have frightened me, inspired me, made me smile and helped shape part of my life.
You’ll be missed Stan, rest in peace.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
This is so so sad. R.I.P Stan.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Good grief, I didn’t expect to see that when the page loaded! This is terribly sad news and hits very hard.
Stan’s work is pure genius and he brought to life visions and dreams in ways that moved the industry forward, challenged all of us and revolutionized the way we look at film. From big to small, Mr. Winston was a creative and inspiration. He will be profoundly missed.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
R.I.P.
This is so sad - he is one of the greatest contributors to cinema and in creating cinema iconography, well ever.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Sad news - R.I.P
June 16th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
He’s the reason why film was so awesome. We lost one of the true film greats today.
Thanks Stan for giving my imagination a run for it’s money. And for making me forget our boring world.
RIP King Winston
June 16th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
NOOOOO
June 16th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Was that the last picture ever taken of him, seconds before being eaten by a T-Rex?
Seriously, his skills are a huge loss for the profession. I hope — but doubt — that the next Terminators will be the same without him.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Truly awful news. R.I.P. Stan. You were one of the best.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
:-( RIP
so sad
June 16th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I always loved you.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
you will be missed
June 16th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
:(
That is a real bummer. I am really very sorry to hear that. He did some fantastic work…Some of the best in the business.
R.I.P. Stan Winston.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
What a complete tragedy to lose such a talented, gifted artist who helped shape the best films and directors of the past twenty years. Stan will be hugely missed, as an artist myself he has certainly inspired me for many years.
My peace, sympathy and prayers are with Stan’s family
Francesca xx
June 16th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
:(
June 16th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
…it should be noted, though, that he had been responsible for rubber dinosaurs and had very little to do with cinema.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I am frustrated. Stan Winston, a legend who was one of the best in his field of work, has died and it will receive little to no media attention. Meanwhile, Heath Ledger- an actor with POTENTIAL who made some MEDIOCRE movies- dies and his face is plastered everywhere known to man.
Here, somebody who actually achieved something, somebody who has actually relevance in the world of film, somebody whose work has been seen by more people than Heath Ledger’s fanbase could even dream of, dies and nothing. No one pays any attention to it. It’s fucked up. My thoughts are the same on Sydney Pollack’s death as well.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I can say only that: THANK YOU AND YOU WILL BE MISSED VERY MUCH! You have given me dream, hope, and inspiration!
Thank you Stan!
R.I.P
June 16th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
You are a legend, without you james cameroon, arnold or steven spielberg wont be where they have reached….
RIP :(
June 16th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Matt,
Please leave out this stupid hierarchy shit on who is more important in terms of death here.
Don’t fuck up this thread.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Stan’s passing is of great relevance for the artistic and film communities. Stan’s business sense, creative vision, and attention to detail was what made him the legend that he was in the field. He will be missed and it may well be a century before we see anyone of his caliber ever again. HIs work inspired me to become the artist that I am today.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Him and his studios work on Jurassic Park were the reason I got into the animation industry to begin with. He will be greatly missed.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Horrible news. I’m very shocked because he seemed in fine heath. Does anyone know what happened?
I had the awesome pleasure of meeting him when he won the Oscar for Jurassic Park.
He’s was a ledgend and a great guy!
This industry will never be same without you Stan!
June 16th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Sale nouvelle.
Bad and sad news.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
This was such a shock to read. I remember an interview where he described what Cameron wanted him to accomplish on Aliens 2 with the “mother” alien creature (before CGI, working only with pupeteers) and at the time he thought what Cameron was asking for was impossible. Yet, they achieved it. Winston was not just a visonary but also clearly a phenomenal collaborator…a craftsman and a artist.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
The headline for this article is not nearly coarse enough.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Stan was a true artist in the business and he will be remembered by the industry as one of the few men in Hollywood who could blur the line between fantasy and reality with his creations.
His work will be cherished and missed by all.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
What a loss for his family, friends, the film industry and all of Stan’s fans. I IMDB’D Stan’s incredible career. We all have to own at least 5 or more movies he has worked on. A truly amazing man who pioneered so many breakthroughs in special effects and make-up. RIP Stan you will be missed.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
@ Andy — It COULD have been “Winston: Dead”
June 16th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
What a tragedy. He will be missed. :[
June 16th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
rip from all your irish fans.
a fan from galway
June 16th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
=[
June 16th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Man these things do come in 3s. Turning on Meet the Press yesterday morning to see that Tim Russert had passed away, it was a total punch in the gut and then seeing this page load was another punch. Sad times.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Stan Winston was one of the very best at his craft!! He will be sorely missed. I hope that one or more of his proteges will take over where he left off. He was a brilliant artist and his legacy will live on and inspire many other creative f/x designers!
June 16th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
he was a legend th best in th biz if you ask me. r.i.p stan
June 16th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Respect.
RIP Stan
June 16th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I can’t believe, yet am not at all surprised, to see negative comments on this thread. I am seriously bummed about that. What is wrong with you people?
I had another thought amidst the darkness today at this news, and it was simply this. Stan’s name associated with even the worst project always gave me hope that, at the very least, the creature would be awesome, interesting, or innovative. If Stan Winston was involved, it immediately elevated the project. How many people can we say that about?
June 16th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
A true artist of modern cinema. You will be missed Stan. Your legendary work will live on forever though.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
This is truly terrible news. Stan is a legend and will always be rmeber for the amazing talents he brought to the film industry. He is and always will be a driving force behind me wanting to take things from a CG thing back to old school animatronics.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Stan Winston… :(
June 16th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
a god among men
June 16th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
A pioneer is lost.
June 16th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I’m turly shocked and saddend, he was master of his art and he will be missed
June 16th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
In what can be described as maybe the lamest thing in my life, when I was 9, I had basically memorized every word in the Making of Jurassic Park documentary VHS (which is now a special feature on the DVD). I quoted Stan Winston constantly in 3rd grade.
I’m going to watch the doc tonight, in memory.
June 16th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Sometimes it seems like Stan Winston pops up in the special features of every other DVD I own. I’ll miss him.
June 16th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
seriously, i think the last time I actually shed a tear at a celebrities passing was when John Lee Hooker died years ago, but…and you know, my day was bad enough…but I’m actually crying about this, he was a great man, a legend amongst legends and the literal architect of so many dreams…I really feel like someone close to me has passed.
June 16th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
R.I.P Stan,
An absolute legend… you will be missed
June 16th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Stan,
An absolute legend… you will be missed
R.I.P
June 16th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
i’m so fucking sad
June 16th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I had the pleasure of meeting
MR.WINSTON at last years SAN DIEGO
COMIC CON, and the man was a
class act and very friendly to all
of his fans!!! You will be missed,and
THANK YOU for entertaining us with
your special effects!!! :(
June 16th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
ave Stan.
June 16th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Oh man, Stan Winston now? Why do we have to be cursed with the knowledge that anyone that’s ever done anything worthwhile in the entertainment industry will be passing within the next few years.
Stan: You gave us the Nerd Trifecta of Scares: the Alien Queen, the Terminator, and the Jurassic Park dinosaurs. Your work will be missed.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Damn,this is just sad as hell.Stan will be greatly missed by me,loved his work for all the movies he had worked with.
R.I.P stan,we will miss you.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
sad news. Ts & Ps
June 16th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Stan’s illustrious career and that of Dick Smith’s and Tom Savini, made me get into special effects. It’s a truly sad day…
June 16th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
This is really sad and a huge loss for movie world…
Thank you for everything…R.I.P.
June 17th, 2008 at 12:38 am
A sad, sad day! R.I.P. dude, you will always be a legend!
June 17th, 2008 at 12:40 am
this is about as surprising as when i heard jim henson died..a total shock!lets just hope that,like jim henson,there’s an apprentice(sp)
that’l shine as bright as the teacher and make us feel as though that person never left us! r.i.p puppet man for you shall be missed…first the sports announcer,then the guy from meet the press..and now this?dammnnnn you threeeeeeeeees!!!
June 17th, 2008 at 12:42 am
Sad, sad news indeed. His work inspired a lot of awe (and a couple of nightmares) while I was growing up. Like everyone on this thread is saying, he is a visionary, a legend of the industry, and an artist to the fullest sense of the word.
On behalf of your fans from the Philippines, Rest in Peace. You will be missed.
June 17th, 2008 at 12:53 am
for those who were wondering how he passed,not sure if it was mentioned on here yet but yahoo news said he died after a seven-year struggle with multiple myeloma.i’m not sure what that is.
June 17th, 2008 at 1:50 am
What a loss to the industry, his work was amazing and inspiring. A true legend of cinema that will be greatly missed.
Rest in Peace Stan
June 17th, 2008 at 2:44 am
No one and I mean no one has done more to contribute to greatest gift bestowed upon human beings, something that truly makes our species great: Imagination. Such was the greatness of Stan’s work that, as a child, I was genuinely convinced those Aliens, Dinosaurs, killer robots and Predators were real. They were something you felt you could touch with your own two hands and feel the texture of a real, living thing (or robot, in the Terminator’s case). When I was 12, it was one of a few ambitions of mine to work for Stan Winston and, more realistically, I’d always hoped to shake hands with the genius that made Dinosaurs come to life. In interviews and DVD commentaries he always comes off as a good natured and humble man. Hopefully this is not the beginning of the end for inspiration and imagination. RIP STAN WINSTON. Know you really were a bona-fide genius.
June 17th, 2008 at 4:41 am
We can only be thankful for his wild imagination and for creating such screen icons,they were so many.
Probably one of the last legendary designers of our time - there are not alot more icons like him,if at all
R.I.P
June 17th, 2008 at 7:14 am
What a shock. Stan Winston was a genius and his awesome work will live on in all the films that we love. From the well known ones like Predator, Terminator, The Thing and Jurassic Park. To the smaller films like The Exterminator and Heartbeeps. I grew up with a huge love for special Make-up effects and Stan was right there as an important roll model. When you think of the great ones, the names that always come to mind are Dick Smith, Rick Baker, Rob Bottin, Tom Burman and Stan Winston. In 1991 I had a chance to say a few words to Stan on the set of T2 and even though I was nervous as hell to speak to him he was so kind. I will never forget that. Stan Winston will be missed and there will never be a day that goes by that I won’t think of him. Bless you Stan and your family.
June 17th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I worked with stan on the first PREDATOR he was a very nice and fun man back then and stayed that way until he passed, even with his major success. so sorry that he is gone, God Bless his Family