Jeff Olson, a modelmaker, mannequin supervisor, and visible results producer who labored on “Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace” and quite a few different movies, died Sunday. He was 77.
Olson’s dying was confirmed by Industrial Mild & Magic, the movement image visible results studio based by George Lucas. The studio’s Instagram web page posted, “The ILM community is heartbroken to lose our dear friend and former colleague Jeff Olson. Over nearly 25 years with the company, Jeff worked as a modelmaker, model supervisor, and visual effects producer on many classic projects, from ‘Willow’ and ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit?’ to ‘Star Wars: The Phantom Menace’ and ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events.’ His career spanned momentous change in the art form and industry, and no matter the techniques employed on a given show, Jeff was always committed to the team, leading his crews with humor and kindness.”
Olson additionally briefly appeared in “The Phantom Menace” as an uncredited Pod Race Spectator in Jabba’s non-public field.
Olson additionally helped create the visible results for “Star Trek: First Contact” in 1996, and later J.J. Abrams’ 2009 “Star Trek.” His further credit as a visible results producer embody “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” “Herbie: Fully Loaded,” and “Rush Hour 3.” His final challenge as a visible results producer was 2011’s “Priest.”
Olson additionally steadily labored as a stage producer, specifically on “Pirates of the Carribean: At World’s End,” and as a mannequin maker on varied tasks, together with “Die Hard 2” and “Back to the Future Part III.”
Olson labored at ILM from 1985 to 2009, later becoming a member of Polygon Leisure as a visible results producer. Olson attended the College of California, Berkeley, and graduated in 1970.
Olson is survived by his spouse, Kathleen Limburg, two kids and grandchildren.
