Legendary 'Star Wars' Makeup Artist Stuart Freeborn Dies At 98 Years Old

Stuart Freeborn, makeup artist for the "Star Wars" movies, passed away at the age of 98 on Wednesday.

Despite being famous for his work on such iconic characters as Yoda, Chewbacca, and Jabba the Hutt, Freeborn was already a legend prior to engaging in the galactic franchise.  "He brought with him not only decades of experience but boundless creative energy," said "Star Wars" creator George Lucas. "His artistry and craftsmanship will live on forever in the characters he created. His Star Wars creatures may be reinterpreted in new forms by new generations but at their heart they continue to be what Stuart created for the original films."

According to IMDB, his first work in the industry dates back to 1936 when he did work on "Rembrandt;" his last credits are for the 1990 movie "Max and Helen." Freeborn also worked with noted film director Stanley Kubrick on the makeup for "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" and "2001: A Space Odyssey."

According to The Guardian, Freeborn was born in London in 1914 and began his career in the 1930s working for director Alexander Korda. During that time period he honed his skills working alongside such stars as Marlene Dietrich and Vivien Leigh. During World War II he signed up for the Royal Air Force but returned to work in film production on the 1949 version of Dickens' famous novel "Oliver Twist."

Freeborn's wife Kay died last year and his three sons Roger, Graham, and Ray also died before him.