Richard Miller, a renowned sculptor who spent decades producing iconic pieces for Industrial Light and Magic, including Davy Jones’ tentacled beard in two Pirates of the Caribbean films and Princess Leia’s gold bikini for Return of the Jedi, has passed away. He was 80.
Two days after his birthday, Miller passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday at his home in Northern California, an ILM representative told The Hollywood Reporter. He had battled cancer, and after a protracted stay in hospice care, he passed away.
Miller, a beloved member of ILM’s extended family, spent close to 30 years as the head sculptor and a crucial part of the ILM Creature Shop and later the ILM Model Shop teams. Beginning in 1981, when he joined the business to work on 1983’s Jedi, the final film in the original Star Wars trilogy, he contributed to 55 films as well as many other projects.
BREAKING! Richard Miller’s funeral, burial service, pictures, date, time, venue
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The Star Wars prequels, numerous Star Trek pictures, notably Generations (1994) and First Contact (1996), the first three Pirates of the Caribbean movies, and the final two Back to the Future films were all among his many accomplishments at the company.
