American architect Colin Cantwell, most famously known for his design of the Death Star in George Lucas’ Star Wars series, passed away last week at the age of 90.
Born in 1932, Cantwell was an animation graduate initially before switching his focus to architecture. Citing Frank Lloyd Wright as one of his major influences, Cantwell presented his works to the design luminary at the School of Architecture in Wisconsin and was subsequently invited to attend the school. While in the process of acquiring funds to attend the school in 1959, Wright passed away and Cantwell’s budding career was put on hold.
Working with NASA throughout the 1960s to educate the public on space discoveries, Cantwell embarked on a career in Hollywood a decade later. He jumped between roles as animator and architect, notably being responsible for the visuals of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.
George Lucas came calling in 1974 when he began producing the original Star Wars movie, which eventually became Star Wars IV: A New Hope. As well as creating the Death Star, Cantwell and Lucas designed the X-wing and Y-wing fighters of the rebellion fighters, as well as the TIE fighters and Star Destroyers for the empire.
In a Reddit Ask Me Anything thread, Cantwell says the trench where Luke Skywalker fires a pair of lasers and blows up the space station wasn’t originally included in the designs.
“I didn’t originally plan for the Death Star to have a trench, but when I was working with the mould, I noticed the two halves had shrunk at the point where they met across the middle.
“It would have taken a week of work just to fill and sand and re-fill this depression. So, to save me the labor, I went to George and suggested a trench. He liked the idea so much that it became one of the most iconic moments in the film.”
Cantwell unfortunately suffered from Alzheimer’s disease in the years leading up to his death. He passed away on 21 May in Colorado.
Image: Hollywood Reporter, Wookiepedia
