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Norman Reynolds

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Norman Reynolds
Born(1934-03-26)26 March 1934
Willesden, London, England
Died6 April 2023(2023-04-06) (aged 89)
Occupation(s)Production designer, art director
Years active1962–1999
SpouseAnn Reynolds
Children3

Norman Reynolds (26 March 1934 – 6 April 2023) was a British production designer and art director, best known for his work on the original Star Wars trilogy and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Early life and education

Reynolds was born in Willesden, London on 26 March 1934,[1][2] Reynolds went to art college.[3]

Career

Reynolds was working for a manufacturer of illuminated signs when he was commissioned to create signs for the 1962 film The Road to Hong Kong and decided to apply for jobs in film design. He started work at Elstree Studios in 1963 as a designer on Come Fly with Me, then worked on the TV series The Saint and on 1965's Thunderball. Subsequent work included Battle of Britain (1969; uncredited) and as assistant art director on Phase IV (1974).[3]

Reynolds did his best known work on the first three Star Wars films,[3][4] as art director on 1977's Star Wars and after the death of John Barry as production designer on the sequels, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi,[1] and on 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, for which he won his second Academy award and a BAFTA award.[3][1] He was subsequently art director on the 1978 film Superman and its 1980 sequel Superman II, and production designer on Return to Oz and Young Sherlock Holmes (both 1985) and Empire of the Sun (1987). He also worked on Alien 3 (1992) and Mission Impossible (1996).[3]

Reynolds directed two episodes of the 1980s TV series Amazing Stories, "The Pumpkin Competition" and "Gather Ye Acorns".[citation needed] He was special effects director for The Exorcist III (1990) and second unit director for Alive (1993).[1]

Personal life and death

Reynolds and his wife, Ann, have three daughters and lived in Cheltenham.[1] He often concealed his work, saying that he worked in a biscuit factory.[3] Reynolds died on 6 April 2023 at the age of 89.[1][3][5]

Awards

Won

Nominated

Selected filmography

As art director

As production designer

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Knibbs, Steve (6 April 2023). "Star Wars: Oscar-winning production designer Norman Reynolds dies". BBC News. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Norman Reynolds: Visualizing Victorian England". Starlog. No. 104. February 1986. pp. 29–31.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Gilbey, Ryan (9 April 2023). "Norman Reynolds obituary". The Guardian.
  4. ^ "Star Wars: The man who designed the films' 'look'". BBC News. 10 January 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Norman Reynolds, Oscar-winning set designer on Star Wars and Indiana Jones – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  6. ^ "The 60th Academy Awards (1988) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
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