Visual Artist Syd Mead, Responsible For Blade Runner, Tron, Dead At 86

Variety reports that visual artist and futurist Syd Mead, who helped come up with the look for films like Blade Runner, Tron, Aliens and Star Trek: The Motion Picture has passed away at the age of 86. He died due to complications of lymphoma, and the news was confirmed by his spouse Roger Servick. The death comes at a time when Mead was set to get the Art Directors Guild’s William Cameron Menzies Award during the Guild’s 24th Annual awards in February for his work on Blade Runner, Aliens and Star Trek.

ADG president Nelson Coates said: “I am so saddened to hear of the passing of visionary illustrator and concept artist Syd Mead. His pivotal role in shaping cinema was unique, with a singular ability to visualize the future. As one of the most influential conceptual artists of our time, his visions and illustrations of future technological worlds will remain as a testament to his vast imagination.”

Some of his other film credits include West Side Story, where he was a production illustrator, 2001: A Space Odyssey (designed the Leonov spaceship) and as a robot designer for Short Circuit. As for what he did with Star Trek, he came up with the villain V’Ger. He also did designs for Mission: Impossible III, Elysium and Tomorrowland, before being consulted on Blade Runner 2049. He was honored by the Visual Effects Society in 2015.

411 would like to give our condolences to his family, friends and fans.