Variety is reporting that legendary visual artist Syd Mead has passed away Monday at the age of 86. According to reports he suffered from complications from lymphoma.
Alexandra Wyman/Invision/AP/Shut Via Variety
- Hollywood icon and visual arts pioneer, Syd Mead passed away yesterday in Pasadena, California. He was 86 years old.
- Mead has been celebrated for his long career in Hollywood and his ability to visualize the future working to help create the look and feel of many groundbreaking sci-fi films.
- His many credits include:
- Blade Runner
- Tron
- Aliens
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture
- Mead’s career began not as an artist in the City of Angels, but working as a designer in the auto, electronic, and steel industries. He worked for Ford, Sony, U.S. Steel, and Phillips before venturing into the film business.
- His first major motion picture project was working as a production illustrator on the Robert Wise’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Mead designed V’Ger the sentient being that wanted to destroy Earth.
- He also was responsible for the look of the Leonov ship from 2001: A Space Odyssey and its sequel 2010, as well as serving as the consultant and robots designer on Short Circuit.
- Throughout the 2010’s he worked on designs for Mission: Impossible III, Elysium, Tomorrowland, and served as a consultant for Blade Runner 2049.
- In 2015 Mead was recognized by the Visual Effects Society with a Visionary Award.
- He was to be honored by the Art Director’s Guild in 2020 with the William Cameron Menzies Award for his work on Aliens, Blade Runner and Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
What they’re saying:
- Art Directors Guild president Nelson Coates: “I am so saddened to hear of the passing of visionary illustrator and concept artist Syd Mead. His pivotal role in shaping cinema was unique, with a singular ability to visualize the future. As one of the most influential conceptual artists of our time, his visions and illustrations of future technological worlds will remain as a testament to his vast imagination.”