Norman Reynolds, the two-time Oscar winner for production and art design on several Star Wars and Indiana Jones films who director Steven Spielberg famously referred to as the franchises’ “creative core,” has died. He was 89.
Continue reading to find out his cause of death.
Norman Reynolds’s cause of death: How did Norman Reynolds die?
The renowned actor died a natural death. LucasFilm LTD has confirmed his death, which was initially reported by the BBC: “died peacefully with his wife Ann and three daughters by his side.”
Spielberg, who first collaborated with Reynolds on 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, said in a statement, “Norman was always smiling with enthusiasm, and there was nothing he couldn’t make work. Joyful and friendly and a massive talent.”
Sculpting the iconic golden idol that Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones attempts to steal in the opening sequence of Raiders of the Lost Ark was one of Reynolds’ numerous contributions to the franchises. Reynolds modeled the idol on an Incan fertility sculpture he acquired while traveling abroad.
“The legacy of this work spreads from movies and series to video games, immersive entertainment, and theme park experiences,” said LucasFilm LTD (read the entire statement below). “In every detail of Star Wars spatial design is the foundational work accomplished by Reynolds and his colleagues.”
