Tony Dyson, the man who built the beloved Star Wars characterR2-D2, has passed away at 68. Dyson was discovered unresponsive inside his home on the Maltese island of Gozo after a concerned neighbor noticed his door had been left open, BBC News reports. The iconic White Horse Toy Company owner is believed to have died due to natural causes, though an investigation is underway to pinpoint the cause of death.
From conceptual designs by Ralph McQuarrie, Dyson was commissioned to construct eight separate R2-D2s for the franchise. Though most known for his hand in crafting one of the most popular characters in film history, Dyson also contributed memorable creations to Superman II, Dragon Slayer, and the 1979 James Bond classic Moonraker.
"It all began with Sunday morning movies when I was growing up in England," Dyson said of his introduction to robotics in a 2015 interview with Digital Journal. "I was going to the cinema with my sister and seeing jet-men with powerpacks on their backs, using an old cardboard-type of special effects." According to Dyson, those early film experiences as a child impacted the course of his life forever.
In addition to his prolific work in cinema, BBC notes that Dyson also worked with major companies such as Toshiba and Sony on both the design and construction of various robots. As of December 2015, Dyson was also involved with a startup known as Green Drones. The company, Dyson told Digital Journal, is aimed at developing drones specifically for the purpose of saving human lives.
Rest in peace, Tony.
