Quote: MSNBC

Stan Winston
April 7, 1946 - June 15, 2008

Stan Winston, the man that pioneered visual-effects in movies over the last 25 plus years has died at the age of 62 after a seven year fight with multiple myeloma. He died Sunday night, June 16 at his California home.

Technically his death is not Transformers related but without his trail-blazing and inspiring work, the live action Transformers probably would not have existed. His work helped create the blockbuster, special effects fun we now enjoy.

Stan Winston has won four Academy Awards for makeup, visual-effects and animatronics work. He is only one of two special effects wizard to have a Walk of Fame start.

For his impact on the film industry, you just have to read through his filmography and see his work on The Terminator movies, Predator series, Aliens series, Jurassic Park series, and Edward Scissorhands, just to name a few. His final projects include Avatar, Jurassic Park IV, and Terminator 4. He also created the special effects company Stan Winston Studio whose recent work includes Indiana Jones and the upcoming GI Joe.

Modern visual effects and how a story is told with them all bow down to Stan for pioneering many firsts. You name a your favorite big visual effects or creature effects from the last 25 years chances are he was either involved or a source of inspiration.

"I don't do special effects. I create characters and I use the tools of special effects necessary to do it," - Stan Winston, 2003