Original builder of R2-D2 Tony Dyson has just passed away

BBC.com reports that today Tony Dyson, the original builder of the worlds most famous droid R2-D2, other robots, and special effects for other movies, has passed away at 68 years old (tip of the hat to Makingstarwars.net)!

Some facts:

He made four remote control R2-D2 units – two units for the actor Kenny Baker to sit in with a seat fitted inside and two throw away units to be used in a bog scene in Empire Strikes Back where a monster spits out the droid onto dry land.

Prof Dyson also worked on Superman ll, Moonraker and Dragon Slayer, and was nominated for an Emmy for his film special effects supervision.

For the Bond film Moonraker he created 36 model spacemen complete with backpacks, laser guns and space suits for the space scene.

He also directed the special effects filming of Hector the evil robot in Saturn 3 – a science fiction film starring Kirk Douglas, Farrah Fawcett and Harvey Keitel.

His other film work included designing and producing 35 feet of latex human intestines, used in the dream scene for the 1980 Ken Russell film Altered States starring William Hurt; and working on the giant robot dragon in 1981’s Dragon Slayer.

He also designed and built robots for some of the largest electronic companies in the world including Sony, Philips and Toshiba as well as for a number of TV commercials and leisure parks around the world.

What impressed me about Dyson was his creativity in making R2-D2. He said designing the little blue astromech droid was one of the most exciting things in his life. Although he’s gone I know that he will always be remembered in the hearts of many Star Wars fans.

Here’s some photos of the great Tony Dyson: