Cool News
Rest In Peace Stan Winston
Hey guys. Quint here with some absolutely horrible news. We had an unsubstantiated email come in about 20 minutes ago telling us that Stan Winston passed away last night. I couldn’t find any reference to it online at the AP wire, Variety, CNN or anywhere, so I figured it wasn’t true.
Then a second email came in, which made my heart drop into my stomach, a new person saying the same thing, without any backup. I asked for clarification and got it, so I got on the phone with a friend of mine who knows Winston and got the confirmation.
The father of the dinosaurs in JURASSIC PARK, of THE TERMINATOR, of PUMPKINHEAD and PREDATOR and the Monsters in MONSTER SQUAD and, of course, ALIENS, has passed on.
The man is a legend and created legends. He himself a God in his own right, sculpting Icons that will be remembered as long as people with imagination deem it prudent to tell stories to an audience.
He was a leader in practical effects work, having given opportunity to all top effects leaders today. Winston idolized the people that came before him in the field, like Ray Harryhausen, and sought to make his own iconography, inspiring yet more to follow in his lead.
The picture below is of Ray Harryhausen getting his star on the Hollywood walk of fame, something that Winston was instrumental in making happen. Also pictured is another effects legend, Rick Baker, and director Frank Darabont.
I have one quick anecdote to share. I’m a big MONSTER SQUAD fan and have spoken with many people involved, including Tom Woodruff who worked with Winston on the effects and was even the man in the Gillman suit, as well as the cast and crew and a funny story involving Winston came out of that.
Apparently, he oversaw the film, but gave his sculptors freedom to create the creatures, so as a gag, they sculpted up Wolf Man to look exactly like Stan. Now, I never heard if he saw himself in it, but I do know that he loved it and the final version in the movie IS werewolf Stan Winston.
He won Oscars for his make-up and visual effects work on ALIENS, TERMINATOR 2 and JURASSIC PARK and was nominated for his work on HEARTBEEPS, PREDATOR, EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, BATMAN RETURNS, THE LOST WORLD and AI.
And he wasn't done yet. His practical work on IRON MAN is a huge part of what made the film a success and he was working on the new Terminator movie.
There’s a part of me that really hopes all this is some kind of giant misunderstanding. I hope this report is in error, but I’ve gotten too many confirmations now to not mention it.
We can only hope that his memory is done justice by Stan Winston Studios and they keep creating icons for generations to come.
My thoughts are with Mr. Winston’s friends, family and fans.
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Oh my God.
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Legend.
RIP. -
this is the worst fucking news ever. this fucking sucks. do we know what happened?
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He'll be remembered from so many 80's classic. RIP Mr Winston.
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I pray by some miracle this isn't true.
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Jun 16, 2008 12:52:28 PM CDT
I think I speak for every single movie watcher when I say
by blindambition238
Noooooooooooooooo! Seriously Death, fuck off. You've been a total bastard to cinema this year. Cant you go and murder some MTV celebrities?
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please be a rumor please be a rumor PLEASE BE A RUMOR
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Confirmed.
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You will be missed.
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I am not know for crying. A man's life is his statement. But this breaks my heart like few others could. The man responsible for so many wonderful and imaginative characters. Gone.
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I really looked up to Stan Winston, his creature creations were art.
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NO WAY! This must not be true.
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This is a guy who makes movies better than they than they would be, and in many cases, deserve to be.
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Steve Wang, known effects maestro, sent out a myspace bulletin saying he's confirmed it with the shop. This is an incredibly sad day. Word is cancer, but I don't know anything past that.
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Damn it. I forgot the "N" in known.
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It is,oh god.
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Just wish it wasn't his final. It showed how amazingly relevant and impressive he and his craft is. At 62 he definitely had a lot more to give us.
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can't be.
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This sucks ass!
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the guy was brilliant.
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A moment of silence... Two moments of silence... And the rest of the year in quiet despair. A great artist to whom we all owe a debt. RIP.
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Stan was one of the first people who got me into creatures and the art of makeup. This is such a shame
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He was a master in his field.
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Really Death. F*ck you.
You rob the world of a wonderful man like this and still leave complete-wastes-of-flesh like Uwe Boll walking the earth? What's with you? -
So many movie greats have died recently; man, 2008 has really sucked so far. RIP Stan, your great creations will live on forever :(
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Awful, awful news. What he created was magic.RIP Mr. Winston.
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First Tim Russert, then this.... who's the third?
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I am gutted to hear that. The guy was a legend, his work and creations has fueled my imagination and inspired me to become a future film maker. I always dreamt that one day I work get the chance to work with Stan Winston.
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Rest in peace, sir. Rest in peace.
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What lousy news. What lousy, lousy news.
RIP. -
For Christ's sake, please don't be true.
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When I read this my heart sank. I don't think I could feel more sadness for anyone I didn't know. It is at least a small comfort that his legacy will live on through his films and continue to inspire.
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Seriously, I'm speechless!
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Naming the site Aint It Cool News wasn't such a great idea after all when you have to post news like this.
But whatever. Rest in Peace Stan Winston and thank you for the many many moments you gave us. -
This is a huge loss to the entertainment industry and to fandom. His creations are pure legend and is a hero in his right. May his legacy always continue to inspire others.
Rest in piece. -
I had no idea he was even sick. Mr. Winston has always been an inspiration.
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I hope the fact that the story hasn't broken yet means it isn't true. This guy has contributed on so many levels to all the movies that mean so much to us. And I just saw The Thing on the big screen for the first time Friday night. Condolences to his friends and family and all the appreciators of his wonderful creations.
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Hope it's not true, but if it is: "Thanks for all the great movies, Stan!"
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He was the best.
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That's terrible.
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now that practical effects are essentially dead as well. i feel that this will be a turning point in many ways. If the modern king of practical fx is dead (savini is like a duke, or prince or something)then the art itself will probably be gone soon. we've seen it wither already.
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sad stuff
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I was just watching Jurassic Park last night and was still geeking out over the dinosaurs. What a legend. The best there ever was.
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still doing make up for high school productions, just before he headed to California. Understood that Mr. Winston was the most gracious man. If he is indeed truly gone, he and his staff created iconic creatures in the same league as Jack Pierce did in his heyday.Thank you sir, for all the great movie memories.
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you made my childhood more fun with your creations.
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Although I'm sure Ricardo Montalban had nothing to do with this (or did he?), Stan Winston and his kick-assedness will be greatly missed. I just hope that the art of practical effects and make-up didn't die with him.
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i hope you in movie making heaven. You gave us so much, you will never be forgotten, your legacy not only will be your family, but the incredible body of work, that will make generations believe that magic does exist, and that the imagination has no limits.
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but the tears are real anyway ;(
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RIP.
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A serious loss to the world of movie magic, Winston was a damn genius and this is a tragic day. RIP Stan, thanks for the good years.
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going to miss his work.
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okay, a true legend has died. lets get The Academy to name the effects oscar after Mr. Winston.
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He'll be missed
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I love Teddy from A.I. so much. And the minute I think of Stan Winston, I think of Teddy. :( This is such a sad day. We still need him. He can't go.
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Look at the legacy Stan leaves behind. Everyone may not know the man, but they know his work. A giant in his field, he will never be forgotten. What more is there? > RIP Stan Winston.
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This man's work has been cheaply copied in so many inferior movies. He was truly a great artists.
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...and an influence on ALL of our imaginations.
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This news sucks. I still think the Predator is the greatest creature he came up with and the best practical effects creature ever. He was a genius.
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the passing of a legend...
we will miss you stan!
thank you for what you've done to this craft we all adore... -
Surely if he were dead, it would be all over the news!
Alas, this is probably true... -
I was just looking over a still from Iron Man this morning. The armor suit designed by Stan Winston and his team is a specatacular work of art. I literally uttered the word "Stan Winston is a genius" not two hours ago. Stan Winston was as big a part of my childhood as Speilberg, Lucas, and Cameron. I'll always be grateful for his fantastic contributions to the world of cinema and my imagination. He will be missed.
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Since I was a kid, Stan was one of my heroes. He was able to kick-start my imagination where others just sparked it. He will be missed.
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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0378801/
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Harry, Herc, Quint, could one of you guys do a petition to sign, or facebook group so we can get the Effects Oscar named after Stan?
RIP to a legend of cinema. -
But what a great legacy he leaves behind. As others have said - a true film-making legend.
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When I was just a youngin' I knew but a few names in cinema, the first was Steven Spielberg, and the second was probably Stan Winston. Everything he made was an instant classic to me, so much so that I actually recognized his work. He will always be remembered as one of the true giants of the second golden age of cinema. See you on the other side Stan, miss you until then.
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You still have KNB and Weta Workshop doing practical effects work... I don't know if he groomed anybody in particular, but I know he mentored damn near everybody who is big in practical effects work today, including the K, N and B of KNB.
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That man sculpted my movie going experiences growing up, and he'll certainly be missed in my household. RIP, Stan, you really were the best.
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Very sad indeed.
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I loved what the stan wisnton studio did. All his work is genius. My cousin will be shellshocked to hear about this. I would truly love to go back on to Hulk thread and kick those people who love that kind of Effects over stories film in their asses. but I wont. Life is too short.
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Stan's work is absolutely legendary, it's a huge tragedy for him to be gone but I'm confident his work will still be watched for centuries to come.
RIP Stan! -
The man is a Legend. This news is very, very sad.
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...he has a spare one, right? :(
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I find I am saying this far too often lately, but this is just very sad news.
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Lost so many good people...I'm absolutely sick about this...what a kick in the nuts...
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Farewell Stan and thanks for everything.
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... thank you, truly, for your art, your creations, and for the magic you helped create for the screen. Because of you, I believed what I saw up there, and for how it affected me I am eternally grateful. You will be missed, but never forgotten, and your work will ALWAYS be there to inspire others. Thank you.
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...............
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Thats a shame but what a kick arse body of work he and his team have left,top man..........
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Thought that was a little strange at the time, horrible news.
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No one came close.
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I feel very sorry for the loss. His work wll be always missed and his genius will never be praised enough. No one will come near his talent in the near future, that is sure. R.i.p Stan.
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RIP. gone but will never be forgotten. Prayers to family and friends.
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dude calm down. it was an unofficial statement so take a breather. Frank Darabont is a very talented man and one of the greatest writers in Hollywood so dont be an idiot and make outlandish comments. We are all saddened by this lost but there is no need to rip on Darabont on this talkback. R.I.P Stan Winston
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One man and his incredible fx shop have brought joy to billions. His work was masterful and was one of the greatest aspects of hollywood. Heaven has a new special effects expert. R.I.P. Stan.
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Creative legends aren't a dime a dozen. Sad news.
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We've just lost a legend. Stan Winston's creations were more than just special effects, they felt like living breathing characters and that's a testament to his genius and the hard work of his crew. This guy was responsible for some of the most memorable movie monsters in film history and it's a damn shame that he won't be around to thrill us and entertain us with new creations. I was fortunate enough to hear him speak at various film events over the last few years and he always seemed so full of energy. You could tell that he had a real love for his craft in the way that he would describe his creations with an almost child-like enthusiasm. Stan Winston will always be a name that I'll associate with greatness. His work will live on and he will be remembered.
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With modern CGi his skills were no longer required anyway.
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From what I've read you looked after the people who worked for you.
I'm now just reading the book The Winston Effect. Which I am thoroughly enjoying.
You blew minds Stan. That's something not alot of people can leave this Earth saying.
R.I.P. -
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Frank Darabont is one of the nicest "Hollywood" guys I've ever met. Let's stay classy, San Diego.
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winston was one of a kind...im shocked
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I didn't want to post it as definitive since there has been no word from his estate or from Stan Winston Studios... but I've gotten over a dozen private confirmations from people who knew him or worked with him now, so I went ahead and changed the headline.
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That's all I can say right now!
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Jun 16, 2008 1:54:13 PM CDT
Well it's official: the age of practical effects is over
by rickey henderson
Say hello to an era of souless CGI. Bleh. This is a truly sad day for Rickey.
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i hope that the terminater, predator and alien all come to life and suck your brains right out your anus
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Just one look at this guy's filmography is awe-inspiring. His work was incredible and he'll certainly be missed.
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Stop being a cunt. For once.
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The guy did some of the most amazing work in some of the best movies ever. In a world of mostly CGI movies, his work still rises above it.
R.I.P Stan Winston. -
JP3, T2, Aliens, Predator, Galaxy Quest, Small Soldiers and Constantine this week. Out of pure f-ing respect for a man who became a god. Without Stan, Arnold would have been left saying, "You're one silly looking muthaphuker."
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this truly does suck, stan winston is one of the major driving forces of so many of the classic movies that have changed my life...jesus it seems like so many of the greats have passed away this year, this is truly a sad sad day.
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Winston is the kind of guy who deserves to get his own talkback on the occassion of his passing into the next world. Stan Winston's contributions to film and pop entertainment are enormous, iconic, legendary, groundbreaking, you name the superlative, it fits. How a site like this puts a guy like Winston and a guy like Tim Russert on equal footing is beyond me.
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This is depressing. What a genius.
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Most people lose their passion and just get lazy with age. Winston was one of those rare guys who worked for a long, long time and never put out anything that wasn't stellar. It was all solid, and a big chunk of it was the stuff of movie legend.
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terrible news indeed, goddamit im actually sad as i type this, this guy shaped the coolest sci fi monsters ever!!!!
thanks mr winston for giving me my coolest nightmare ever, in the form of the real life metal Terminator endoskeleton
Stan winston has just become legend -
just read the news, i am shocked. Guy was a frickin genius! Rest in peace man :( Giant indeed!!
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Uh, Frank Darabont was one of the people who, along with Winston and Baker, really campaigned for Harryhausen to have his own star on the walk of fame. He helped organise it, why wouldn't he be there at the unveiling? It's just a photo. Calm down man. I seriously can't believe Stan's gone. His work still is fucking amazing. Look at the Alien Queen. LOOK AT IT! It's more than 20 years and I've never seen a better movie monster before or since.
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Well that deflates my entire day...
Rest in Peace, Mr. Winston. -
Fine. Frank is the turd in the punch bowl. I'm just saying there are probably better times to vent your hatred of Frank Darabont than a talkback devoted to the death of a true pioneer like Stan Winston.
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another name in the makeup of my childhood...thanks for the memories
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Just... shit... This one hurts.
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All these upcoming properties that would require his finesse, now he can't oversee them. Damn it all.
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Let's stop talking about Darabont. I think we teabagged him enough in the script review of Indy IV which Frankie should be ashamed of writing.All of us should be discussing those moments Stan changed our lives. The Predator taking off his mask in the smackdown with Dutch that blew me away as a teenager and made me realize just how much I wanted to be making films. Unfortunately I didn't get to live my dream but Stan did and he's given me some of my most memorable moments sitting in a theater.
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Amen - I watched Aliens the other day and that stuff is still GOLD.
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Was it know that he was ill with cancer ?
U are still the best Stan! -
There SHOULD now be a 'Stan Winston Award for Practical Effects and Makeup. RIP you total legend, Stan.
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God, I'm very sad to read that one of the greatest practical effects guys of our age is gone. I saw "Terminator" in the theater when I was about 13 and was blown away by Stan Winston's work. Ditto for "Aliens," "Predator," and more recently "Iron Man." He was creative and passionate in his approach, and I'll miss his name being attached to future films.
This makes me very sad.
RIP, Stan. Thanks for your stellar and groundbreaking body of work. You'll be missed. -
Stan Winston, I've not seen anyone come close to your level - you will be sorely missed, sir.
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..tween idol, pop bimbo and z-list "celebrity" upon an altar of bone and blood to bring Zombie Stan back to us to continue his epic work. This sucks.
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And you know he more than likely used random issues from the early books to put that big ass thing together....Stan was indeed the man.
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...Thank you for all your professionalism, it showed...thank you for your giddiness and joy in your job, it was felt...thank you for your art, it moved me...and thank your for the non-stop hours upon hours upon hours of imagination you expanded for me through the visuals you have left us with, it truly was my utmost pleasure to bear witness to your work, and something I will never forget. Let us geeks revel in what this man has done for us. I for one will be watching Predator tonight, in utter silence, and once again, as always, in utter awe that it wasn't an actual alien-being, but rather a man in a suit that was so beautifully crafted I won't remember it is a suit until the final credits role. My condolances to his family and friends, and dare I say, my condolances to all of us for this loss of a genius and a true artist.
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His work will live on forever. Rest in peace.
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...can hope to express how sad this is for movies. He didn't just do good work, he literally made dreams flesh. R.I.P
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His work on "The Thing" alone earned him Rickey's respect. Dude was a living legend--we'll never see another practical effects guy like him again.
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The greatest make up and special fx artist.
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I am really bummed out over this. Russert just the other day and now Stan Winston. not cool-
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We didn't see this coming today. Too soon! How much magic are we going to miss now that he's gone? Fuck!
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the moment when Stark puts the mark iii helmet on for the first time , the way it cames from the sides and snaps on the chin, then the faceplate lowers and its ready, when i saw that i said "SUIT IS FUCKIN AMAZING!!!" on my mind, all thanks to the FREAKIN GOD of special effects!
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this is truly fucking terrible news. I love you Stan you made cinema better.
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Got excited every time I got word that a movie would be using him and his crew. It meant 1, the director knew what he was doing. And 2, its going to look badass. This sucks
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I *HATE* the people that can't cool their jets just once. Why does every one of these threads have to turn into a device for bashing someone, wishing death on someone or some political tangent? Maybe it's time to ban a few of these people that can't stop being insufferable pricks for once.
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Jun 16, 2008 2:23:44 PM CDT
Might as well title this "Practical Effects died last night"
by mattmanreturns
I think Jurassic Park is the perfect mix of CG and practical effects. The CG was used for wide, high movement shots, or herds. Then when a dinosaur gets up in your grill, it's a puppet and is very tangible.
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HIS ABSENCE WILL BE NOTICED AND FELT FOR YEARS TO COME WHO"S IN THE LORDS CROSSHAIRS NEXT
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This is certainly bad news. I was just watching "Jurassic Park" this weekend and musing upon the fact that Stan Winston created a whole ton of memorable film moments and creatures. He will most definitely be missed.
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But what a legacy.
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I just can't believe it.
RIP to a true artist. -
No matter what the movie, no matter what crap hollywood shovelled, Stan Winston's name alone let you know that there would be something special. There's few people who are directly responsble for so many varied things we geeks hold dear. When Iron Man announced, Favreau had me interested, Downey Jr had me intrigued but Winston making a practical Iron Man suit? That sealed the deal. Its rare that someone behind the scenes has that effect on me, but Winston did. He'll be missed.
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Stan Winston was one of my favorite moviemakers. I haven't felt a death this hard since Jim Henson's passing. But my "loss" is nothing compared to those who knew him personally and loved him, and I'm sorry for them, as well as his fans, in their bereavement. Rest in peace, Stan.
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I think someone further up said something about Stan being the second name they knew in cinema. For me it was third. I knew spielberg, and J. williams, and then mr. winston. I have been following him my whole life, i snuck into countless movies as a kid to see his work, and i've followed him ever since. I really can't believe he's gone. I only hope WETA and others are up to the task of filling his shoes. what a shitty day.
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RIP Stan Winston. At least his work will live on for generations!
And Harry.... you're such a blasphemer. -
Jun 16, 2008 2:30:17 PM CDT
I think the last thing Winston would want is you guys saying tha
by kraken
He has left an amazing legacy of talented artists that he had been a mentor, inspiration and friend to. Stan will live on in those people who will continue to bring innovation and imagination to the craft that Stan was truly the grand master of. But I would think the last thing he would want is everyone decrying the craft he loved so much as dead after he was gone. I'm as heart sick over his passing as you guys are... but let's be thankful to Stan for sharing his talents with so many other talented people that will pick up where he left off and carry on in his name.
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The man was a genius, my heart really does go out to his family, so many great works in the movies, he will truly be sadly missed :(
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Don´t shit! These are horrid news!!!
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Reportedly died last night at 62 after a seven year battle with multiple myeloma. Passed away peacefully amongest family and friends.At the very, very least he died peacefully.
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Jun 16, 2008 2:33:09 PM CDT
in his field, this is like when Welles, Eisenstein or Hitchcock
by cifra
More than likely, one of the saddest days for any real film lover this year. Rest In Peace.
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Stan is a legend, I thought he was in good health so this is a massive shock.
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the knuckleheads on Mythbusters.
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Thanks for all the memorable work!
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Death is pulling extra shifts! Stan was a modern Master, no doubt. His characters and sculpts are legendary! God bless him and his family.
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R.I.P. Mr. Winston......
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So sad.... it should also be mentioned that Winston was involved in the Wookie costumes in the "Star Wars" holiday special. This is a sad day to be sure.
(PS: Sorry, I meant Quint above, not Harry)
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This death, unfortunately, starts a new triad. With the passing of Jim McKay (McManus) and Tim Russert, that particular triad remains unfinished. Not sure where we are as far as influential film pioneers, unless you count the King Kong attraction at Universal (and no that wasn't a joke in bad taste. Im serious.)
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Pure greatness. I mean The Thing totally rocked my world when I was a lad. Bad news indeed.
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Stan's Predator , aliens , JP and terminator stuff , really were amongst the best pieces of practical fx ever.He seemed like a nice guy.This came as a shock
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It seems everytime someone in the industry passes away the tributes flood the net/media about how "Great", "Innovative", "Genius" that person was. In this case all those things are so absolutely TRUE. Here is a man who truely WAS "Genius".A creative force who changed the way we all experience the visual media, and without whose talent many memorable moments in entertainment history would not exist.
I Salute Mr. Winston...one of the Greats in entertainment history. -
This man was the first "behind the scenes" person I ever actually knew the name of as a kid growing up. His list of credits is legendary and I can't imagine film without him. Crushing.
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Met him only once, briefly, but he was unbelievably cool. Made jokes and was more than happy to pose for a picture. Sad sad sad sad news.
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I'm fond of Edward Scissorhands.
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Thats sad, and completely unexpected.
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man, this is just depressing. all of the shapers of my childhood are going away. this is just awful. his genius will be missed.
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Winston was amazing. Nothing else to say. A true pioneer and artist. Damn this is bad news.
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I think if Stan and the others in that photo didn't have a problem standing next to Darabont, then YOU sure the hell should not. I mean, if you're not one of those guys... shut the hell up. I loved his works, always have. It is a sad day in film-land and being a petty dickhead just makes you look bad, not Frank Darabont. I've wanted to get a tattoo of an ALIEN for about 15 years, and while this doesn't speed that process up, it makes me appreciate his and Geiger's work that much more.
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I'm shocked. RIP Stan.
He was a truly great artist and a revolutionary in the movie FX business. What kind of work he left behind for us to marvel at, it is awe-inspiring. -
But RIP Stan. Weirdly enough, he was kinda overshadowed in the late 70s/early 80s when practical effects guys like Rick Baker, Rob Bottin and Chris Walas were ruling the roost, and moving things on from the Dick Smith / Stuart Freeborn / Tom Savini era. But he showed over time again and again the sheer quality of his work. The movies are testament to that - crucially he understood that effects were there to sell the story, and not the other way round. A damn shame.
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Just... Fuck.
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A true master of his craft.
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Tom Savini just bursted into the room I'm in, just got off the phone with Greg Nicotero who confirmed it - Stan Winston has passed away. Rest in peace to a true legent. Jesus, this is a downer on today.
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I hate when i drop in here for some idle movie chit-chat and get thumped by the news of a great director or actor dying but this guy was one of my all time favourite movie making legends! This is horribly sad! What the Hell happened!?
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He had a friend whose friend was on Winston's team. This was right after he finished "Lost World." My Dad got to see a T-Rex head from the film that still worked and got his picture taken with Stan in this huge boardroom-like area with Pumpkinhead, Predator, the "Congo" apes, etc. He said Winston was all smiles and a complete gentleman. Stan even took my Dad into the inner sanctum, where the white shark monster for "Creature" had just been finished. My Dad almost shit his pants. Winston's teammate who hooked him up also spoke very highly of Winston and his working methods. For me, the guy convinced me the Queen Alien, Predator, and T-Rex were real and alive. He sold the illusions, and was one of the greats. RIP.
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"Jurassic Park" was the movie that made me love movies when I was a kid, and Stan Winston was a big part of that happening. The world is slightly less fantastic without you.
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A Movie Great has passed away, Stan Made Preadator not just the monster but his work saved the film from being a second rate bug picture. His work on Terminator is brilliant, Jurassic Park would have been a poorer place and many more would be poorer. I hopehis company continues as we need artists of such a high standard to make FX great. to close may I offer my condolences to His Family, Friends, Co workers and Fans. A sad day indeed.
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but his character work, such as his early award winning old age of Cicely Tyson and the delightful robot makeups in Heartbeeps. Damn, the wonderful work he has left behind...Somewhere Dick Smith sheds a tear..
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His fame will only grow. No one truly dies as long as we remember them, and I'll never forget Mr. Winston. One day I'll have kids, and then I'll introduce them to his work, so that they can show it to their children. I'm sure every one of us here will do the same, and his legacy will live forever, just as it deserves. Rest in peace Stan, you wizard you.
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He has a body of work that will live forever, especially his work with Jim Cameron. Thanks for everything Stan.
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Actually...yes. Yes he was. Well not the shirt, but definitely the jacket. And he had his son and a tripod in tow (no they weren't the same thing).
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Look at what you started!
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Sad, tragic, and awful news.
A true visionary and all around good dude.
He will be missed, that is for sure. -
Jun 16, 2008 2:55:10 PM CDT
I highly doubt the Terminator 4 script killed him....
by fuck frank darabont
What's the chance reading a script (no matter how bad) could kill a man? Pretty slim I'd say. I propose the theory that it was in fact, suicide that killed Mr. Winston. After reading McG's script for Terminator 4, Mr. Winston decided he no longer wanted to live in a world where such scripts existed let alone were greenlit. So he willfully forced his own heart to explode, sparing us all from the magnificent Mr. Winston's participation in such a truly horrid production.
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What a talent. And to be so fortunate as to be able to share it with us all, to inspire us and make us believe in things that don't exist. Heres to the team he has working for him carrying on his legacy. God bless you, Stan.
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A true innovator and genius has been lost. RIP MR. Winston, you will be greatly missed, but your work will live on in cinematic history forever.
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to this day, scare the piss out of me.the dude was an artist and a craftsman on a level unseen today.
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I can't believe this is true. Truly, truly a tragic loss. Another legend passes on.
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A sad day, for lovers of film everywhere... We'll all miss you Stan.
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RIP Stan Winston. We can only hope you have mentored enough practical effects wizards to fill your incredibly huge shoes. I never want to live in a world where all movie creatures are CGI based. You will be missed, sir.
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this makes me really sad. Stan Winston was one the first filmmaking people whose name and face I knew. I became a true movie fan in the time of T2 and JP, buying making of magazines and books, and this guy was all over them. now he's gone. :-(
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That's completely horrible. Another one of my heroes gone, but never forgotten. Stan was a god among men and fortunately, his great works will live on forever.
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This is terrible. This man built half my childhood.
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I'm shocked.
His body of work will live forever -
Huge blow to the special effects industry. Not only was Stan a huge influence and mentor to many people who've gone on to do great work on their own, but he seemed like a genuinely nice guy under any circumstances. I highly recommend tracking down his beautiful coffee table sized book "The Winston Effect."
T.B. -
I truly hate to hear this. May Mr. Winston be remebered for his films and remain forever as an insiration to all those young people who wish to follow him, and in the hearts of the family and friends that loved him.
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As a sculptor/practical effects artist, Winston was one of my heroes. His creatures terrified me as a child, yet simultaneously planted the bug to follow in his impressive footsteps. Raise your glasses to a cinematic hero.
Farewell and Adieu. -
You know how in a lot movies where they have a monster stalking it's victims and it's unseen for most of the picture? When they finally reveal the creature it's usually a big let down. Not with the Predator. When you finally see him he's awesome. Then when Arnold and the audience sees him without his mask it's even cooler! Arnold was right when he said the line "You are one UGLY MOTHERFUCKER!" The moving mandibles was a stroke of genius from a genius.
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the man was a gift full of wonders.
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Delete the article content: "There's a part of me that really hopes all this is some kind of giant misunderstanding. I hope this report is in error, but I've gotten too many confirmations now to not mention it."
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... and you know its going to happen one of these days ....
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She worked in the dublin offices of major american studio. Cancer is no respector of age,.gender colour or creed. It is an absolutely horrible illness. You get it and fucks with you. It pretends to go away and it comes back and it will always get you in the end. I know a little of stans family are going through because my family went through it ourselves. I remember My brother saying to me. great people like my mother die and others Like say mugabe live long lives.
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That's terrible; he was nowhere near old enough, and as the article says, he was still doing quality work. A year or so ago, I picked up "The Winston Effect", and although I knew how large this man's contributions were to so many of the films I loved, that's still one of my two or three favorite books about movie making that I've ever read. This is a real shame. With him gone, the stable of guys left who could be called true practical effects geniuses just shrunk massively. How much longer 'til there are no more Stan Winstons left in the industry. Scratch that. If he's gone, then there are none left now. Dammit.
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I wasn't aware that he was sick. Seriously, he went before his time. This fucking sucks.
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Had he actually started work on the movie? If so I hope the remaining guys on the movie work EXTRA hard to honour his memory. They better DELIVER in the name of Stan Winston. RIP man, you were one of the greatest.
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one of the best guys working behind the scenes today...one of the best EVER. The guy created so many unique and instantly iconic creatures he was as importan as any of the bg directors-Kubrick, Lynch, Speilberg any of em. Whether people realised it or not he had a bigger impact on the worlds imagination than most other men. RIP.
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how sad i am right now
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The Terminator exoskeleton, the Alien Queen, Jurassic Park dinosaurs, the mothaphuckin' Predator... and his more recent success with Iron Man was outstanding. Deserves to be rank next to Ray Harryhausen, for sure. Loved your work, man. Godspeed.
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You would expect to see such monumental news on the Yahoo frontpage, but no some popstar whore in rehab again gets top billing, but a pioneer in cinema who made millions and millions of people a passion for cinema, for sci fi, for fantasy with his work, does not even get a mention.
RIP Stan, thanks for Predator, for Aliens, and for making IRON MAN the best movie this year, and doing it right! -
Rest In Peace Stan, and thank you for years of fond memories. I'll make it a point to watch something you helped bring to life tonight, and raise a glass in your name.
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knock on wood man, knock on wood.
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Wow, this really sucks. He was a bonafide visionary genius. Rest in peace Mr. Winston and thanks for all the awesome you've given us...
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wtf...stan winston was a genius!~ he will be sorely missed...
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he offers absolutely nothing and is a complete knob. Can someone please boot his stupid arse.
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movie monsters are gonna look shit from now on.
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How cool was this guy. :(
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FUCK! Sorry to shout. Good night, Mr. Winston. Thanks for all of it.
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He did truly great film work. He will be missed.
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He did truly great film work. He will be missed.
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Stan Winston seemed like a genuinely nice guy in interviews. He had a great sense of humor.When James Cameron asked him, after the success of TERMINATOR if he should do the sequel to ALIEN, Stan responded, "Absolutely Jim! I need the job!"Rest in peace, Mr. Winston and thank you for the new monster icons who can proudly stand with the greats at Universal.
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Jun 16, 2008 3:37:28 PM CDT
almost everything I loved from my childhood was made by this man
by smackfu
THAT's an impact
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He was pure greatness. Crap.
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...posting under this name today, but Big Stan was half the inspiration for the name, so maybe it's OK.
All I know is that 62 years wasn't enough. That said, this is one of those rare instances where I mourn but I don't worry - there are those that will carry on what he started. We should be happy he was here at all. -
In all the DVD documentaries I've seen him in he always had the most enthusiasm and he just seemed friendly and excited. As for Darabont's Indy draft, I think people might be overreacting given that I assume Lucas and Spielberg mandated crap like the monkeys and the fridge explosions. Marion was way better in it anyway. I could have lived with it. And this is not an insult at all but I am amazed Ray Harryhausen is still around. You'd think he'd have gone before Stan, isn't Ray like 95?
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Stan Winston has been a part of my life since I saw Aliens in 1987. Rest in peace!
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I just watched "Aliens" the other day and damn if that Queen Mother puppet doesn't hold up. Winston's work throughout that entire film is stellar and 100% believable 22 years later.
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This day is just miserable now. R.I.P., Mr. Winston.
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You inspired a kid from a small town in New Jersey to love movies and become an animator. Thank you and Godspeed. You will be missed :(
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selfishly i wish he was alive so he could do make more awesome movies
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I sure hope he was a believer. I'd love to see the man on the other side and talk about what a major influence his work was on my childhood imagination.
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today. And it would probably look better. IMO the predators in AVPR r much better looking than in the original. And the Arny's lines were so corny. Tell me when John McCain dies and then I will be sad.
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all hope is lost. too many people dies this year WTF? Heath Ledger, sydney pollock, tim russert, and now stan winston.
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Your work inspired me to become a filmmaker. This was heartbreaking news.
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and I know a guy who knows a guy who works there, so I would know. haha.
alot of people dying recently. good thing harry's losing weight or he would have been next
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WE have lost many good people from the world of film recently but few were as prolific, consistent or talented as Stan Winston. Stan's talents could make average films great and great films legendary. By all accounts he was a nice guy to work with. The world just became a poorer place. God go with you, Stan...
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The magic of movies lost some of its shine for sure. Rest In Peace Stan, and thanks for some of the greatest memories of my movie-obsessed childhood. You will never be forgotten - your immortality is assured on the silver screen.
This is truly sad news. -
When I was 11 years old. I knew the name Stan Winston meant brilliant practical effects. Stan Winston helped to create that fire that burned within me for the creative aspect of film, and the world on the impossible seemingly possible through his wizardry. May what grace has given me, pass unto you Stan. Jaime M Prater
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and how do we stop it?
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Are the some of the only people to criticize a death as opposed to just offering consolation. I am a follower of the work, life, and teachings of Christ, but that is all secondary to the sadness of today. Shame on you, you pharisees who think God is only bug enough for YOUR understanding.Rest in Peace Mister Winston, may flights of angels win you to your rest.Jaime M Prater
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Died of cancer last night. Didn't know he had been battling it for so long. Rest in peace, Mr. Winston.
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fucking bullshit. Usually when an actor dies, its easy for me to pick out a piece of their work to watch in their honor.
not tonight. -
Man, this is hard news. Stan Winston is easily one of the main reason I became such a hard core movie fan. Aliens, T2, The Abyss, Jurassic Park, so many, many othersthe man was a visionary and a legend. This is a sad, sad day. My condolences to his friends and family.
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CGI will never beat your work. Sorry to see ya go.
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calm down and relax. you're a cock.accept it and move on.
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Rest in peace, Stan - you helped form some great memories in my childhood.
Effects master Stan Winston dies
Work included 'Jurassic Park,' 'Terminator'
By DAVID S. COHEN
Stan Winston, one of the great names in special effects, has died at age 62.
The Oscar-winning visual effects artist died at his home Sunday evening surrounded by family after a seven-year struggle with multiple myeloma, according to a representative from Stan Winston Studio.
Winston won visual effects Oscars for 1986's "Aliens, "1992's "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" and 1993's "Jurassic Park,” for which he created animatronic dinosaurs that complimented the film’s digitally-animated creatures.
For decades, Winston’s robotic/animatronic creatures were the best in the industry and his prosthetic makeup was among the best available. “Iron Man” visual effects supervisor John Nelson “Stan was the man when it came to making those kind of prosthetic effects, he was the guy. If you look at the litany of other good people in the business, they tend to be people who worked for Stan.”
Stan Winston Studios did the practical Iron Man suit for this year’s Marvel/Paramount blockbuster but Winston himself was not actively involved with the shoot.
Steven Spielberg, who worked with Winston on several films, said in a statement “Stan was a fearless and courageous artist/inventor and for many projects, I rode his cutting edge from teddy bears to aliens to dinosaurs. My world would not have been the same without Stan. What I will miss most is his easy laugh every time he said to me, ‘Nothing is impossible.’”
“It was a perfect compliment to the stuff thwat we were doing,” said Dennis Muren, who supervised the digital effects on “Jurassic Park.”
“His creatures would work with the actors and when you put the two together the audience was confused, and sometimes we were too, about who had done what.”
But Stan had always said it shouldn’t be all one or all the other, it should be a combination of the two.”
Eric Roth, executive director of the Visual Effects Society said “It’s a big loss. Our industry has lost one of its giants, someone who has had a tremendous impact on helping tell stories with the use of effects.”
Producer Gale Anne Hurd, who worked with Winston on the “Terminator” franchise and on “The Relic,” exprssed shock at the news, as Winston had refused to discuss his illness outside his intimate circle.
Hurt recalled that she and helmer James Cameron first approached makeup artist Dick Smith to do the prosthetic effects on “The Terminator.” Smith declined but recommended Winston, saying “One day you’ll thank me.”
Hurd said of Winston. “He never looked at anything as a problem, it was always an opportunity. I never saw him defeatist, regardless of what may have happened. And he had an incredible childlike passion for films and for makeup effects and animatronics. Having him on set, regardless of whether you were going into your 19th hour or your first, he always gave 100 % and inspired everyone around him.”
The conference room at Winston’s Van Nuys studio was long one of the most effective sales tools any effects company could hope for, with life-sized creatures including the queen alien from “Aliens,” the lunging out of the walls toward the conference table on all sides.
Winston is survived by his wife, Karen; a son, daughter, brother and four grandchildren.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.) -
Goodbye
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stan winston delivered the goods each and every time. respect.
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This is truly awful. This is one of my heroes. My condolences go out to his family and friends. Stan, you made me believe in the unbelievable, your one of the reasons i'm learning to become a film maker. I salute and thank you for that. Rest in peace.
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I thought that was an exceptional movie. The effects were first class (of course) but also the story. The teenagers being stalked weren't cardboard cutouts, they made a serious mistake and were scared at first but then realised they had to do the right thing. Unfortunately, it was too late for most of them. Lance Henriksen's character acted out of understandable rage and grief at the time of the accident before thinking and also too late, tried to undo his mistake of unleashing the demon. In short, it was a film with a credible plot and depth as opposed to almost every other superficially similar film which did not. For this film alone, he deserves a lot of credit.
His effects were brilliantly done in all of his work that I saw and he will be missed. -
He is one of the main reasons why I love movies...I'll be praying for his family.
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From Gargoyles to Iron Man...Alot of us grew up on him...this really fucking sucks. Rest in Peace, sir.
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That's just not right - he had so much yet to do, and he couldn't have been that old. He pushed things forward as much as anyone during his career; now we can only hope that some apprentice somewhere, or some eager fan, will step into his shoes and carry on the great work he started. Hope to shake your hand and say Thanks, someday, Stan. God go with you.
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He always seemed very funny and jovial whenever he pops up on the DVD set. I think Cameron gave him the idea for the Predator to have mandibles. And I remember Winston saying that the shot of the terminator's eye turning off in T1 is actually a bunch of paper mashe, someone turning down a red lightbub, and some dude standing off camera blowing smoke infront of the frame. Good trick, he will be missed.
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Tom Noonan said Stan would glue his eyes shut as a practical joke when he did his Frankenstein make-up.
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His work will live on, and it is truly the stuff of legends. Rest in Peace, Stan; and thanks for all the great moments
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...is far from great. A lot of really strange, horrible events going on. A lot of truly great people being taken too. Enjoy playing in that big monster studio in the sky Mr Winston. You're a legend.
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Hello my friends,
now i´m sitting in my conference room with my colleagues and don´t know what to do. We´re shocked.
Stan was the one who brought us such a wonderful world. In every movie were he get his hands on, i credit him in front of my friends how great this man is. Now it was the time to go and the time for us, to remember. I will remember him every second, when i go to my dvd cabinet and watch one of the movies where his magic bring him back to life.
Rest in Peace my friend.
T.L. -
Jun 16, 2008 4:33:22 PM CDT
...STAN WAS THE MAN WHEN SCIFI WASN'T POPULAR.......
by the marquis de side 3
Stan made a huge difference, especially in the 80s when studios saw sci-fi as pure children's hokum, and rarely took the financial risks people take nowadays to invest in a good sci-fi film. Stan Winston made things happen in an era with less financial support for this genre. Terminator, Aliens, etc... nothing would have made it without his influential help. It's easy now to make a sci-fi film with CGi and a multi-million dollar budget, but all those Hulks and Iron Men bouncing around wouldn't have made it to the screen today if Stan Winston wasn't there in the 80s to pave the way for new directors and designers to tell great stories. He made you believe with what little resources he had at teh time, and with more quality than what's shown today. we'll miss you Stan... =0(
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You shaped my nightmares and fantasies with your incerdible work
what a loss indeed..The world will mourn your passing. -
Rest in peace Stan.
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RIP.
Such a skill to be be that good, yet never, ever to look like your stuff is nothing other than real and completely organic.
It's the stuff like that makes growing up suck. -
Jun 16, 2008 4:40:43 PM CDT
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by marsmarlonlives
STAN NOOOOOOOOOO
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Because, obviously, Amy Winehouse behaving badly yet again is more newsworthy.
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I heard about this earlier at a roleplaying game website's forum. It's a tremendous loss. So much of his work holds up well today. As for cgi vs. the old way of doing things...I prefer a hybrid of the two. There's something to be said about pre-cgi movie magic. Aliens, Bladerunner, Star Wars, 2001, even Ray H's films. Some have aged better than others in the modern cgi-era, but it can be argued that some cgi doesn't look as good, or as real as some of Stan's work, or the ILM stuff, etc. Either way, my thoughts are with Stan's family and friends.
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For everything you have done to inspire the dreams & nightmares of my youth for so many years. A truly unsung hero of cinema, your name deserved of Hollywood's walk of Fame more than the hundreds of actors you contributed your work to in helping delivering memorable performances. It is sad to say that we have lost another giant of the screen & backstage. I raise my glass to you & hope many do the same. Thank you.
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In an industry that has slowly turned to pixels and 1 / 0 computer codes to bring to life the creatures that populate our cinematic epics.........we have lost a true cinematic Wizard whose creations anchored many wonderful films with a believablility that few computers have yet to achieve......in regards to his work on Iron Man.......one can only imagine what he could have added to the Hulk....with a full scale animatronic head or puppeteered body......He will be missed.......
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Thanks for the memories Stan. I will miss your creativity.
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...I mean what fan of film doesn't love Stan Winston and his myriad contributions to film over the past few decades. A man who clearly loved movies and loved what he did, and who always seemed like a cool guy. And what horror/monster movie fan doesn't have a special place in their heart for the Winston directed Pumkinhead, a film so much better crafted than the weak sequels that came after it and tainted the Pumpkinhead name somewhat. But Winston's original? Great stuff. The man made us believe Dinosaurs were real, he gave us the Terminator, and refined the Alien and then one upped it with the Alien Queen. From his work on the first two Predators, to his contribution to The Thing, to his work on films like Dead & Buried, Interview With A Vampire, Batman Returns, Edward Scissorhands, A.I. and more, we really have lost one of the all time greats of movie magic here. I've been a fan of Winston since his memorable work on the old Gargoyles tv movie in the 70's, a flick that got regular tv airplay when I was a youngster. Sure, they may look a bit cheesy now, but back in the day the effects in this tv movie were amazing. Just...damn.
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A gentleman and a consumate master of his craft. (Maybe he's just doing research for a world-class zombie movie. Fingers Crossed, everybody.......)
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May he rest in peace.
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Wow, that guy was a hero of mine... great talent, well used. Safe Journey, Stan :-)
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to express this loss but the film memories that he has provided to us all here, will last as long as there is film. Thank You Mr. Winston, Thank you.
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Just Damn.
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Gonna go watch Aliens.
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It was around 1993-94 I had made Stan Winston t-shirts for my friends and me. Yeah, other guys wear their favorite athlete's sports jersey. I wanted a Stan Winston t-shirt, and damnit, if I couldn't buy one, I was gonna make one.I remember when I started to notice that every cool movie around, Winston had a hand in. Terminator, Predator, Aliens... I mean, c'mon... Then, hearing that he was going to be making full-size dinosaurs for Spielberg... what? Are you kidding me?!He was like one of my heroes. this is just a real punch in the gut.
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I refuse to believe this! Rest in peace, man. Maybe I'll catch up with you later in the reat blue yonder!
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Thanks to Drudge, who has it in red letters. But Harry (who Drudge reads) got it first. But the only thing that matters is that Mr. Winston is properly recognized for what he accomplished. He will be missed (BTW, his work on Galaxy Quest was really great).
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...will be sadly missed. He defined my earliest experiences with horror and sci-fi.
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shit.End of an epic era.
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I just heard about this today. It's pretty much destroyed me. He was my hero.
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What a shame.
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''died at home on Sunday surrounded by family after a seven-year struggle with multiple myeloma, a cancer of blood plasma cells, a spokeswoman for the Stan Winston Studio said.''
RIP Stan
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nice said loafroaster. This is a terrible loss, if it's true. This is very, very sad news.His most iconic monster - beside the T-Rex - will be the Alien Queen. But he made so many fantastic creations... How sad...
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The man was an artist *and* craftsman. I hope someone can step up and keep a strong hand on the tiller at his studio, keeping his name alive...
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I met Stan Winston in Cannes in 1994, I was 15 years old, and the man was as gentle and sweet as he was brilliant... I remember he was kinda stoned that a french teenager could talk about his work with so much passion. We shared a nice chat in the streets, he signed me an autograph, and let me took a picture with me... Well, i was a kid, that was a great moment for me, and still is. He's definitely one of the last and true Hollywood's contemporary legend. His work will be missed for sure.
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Jun 16, 2008 5:16:38 PM CDT
Sadly, it seems that everyday brings another lost icon...
by cletus van damme
..RIP, Mr. Winston.
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...from the Alien Queen to Edward Scissorhands via The Penguin, cinema would have been a boring place without him.
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Mr Winston died of multiple myeloma. I don't know what that is. What I do know is that this is a black, bleak day for the f/x industry. He was one of my heroes. I'll miss his work.
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Very sad day for sci-fi fans.
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This is a huge loss for everyone who ever loved a good monster/scifi flick. Stan's work was indeed pure magic and he was a genius. He was truly an artist and craftsman in every sense of the word. Rest in peace Stan. You will be greatly missed by millions.
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spent on a war that has claimed a lot of good people's lives...and we still have to struggle to raise enough money for cancer research.What messed up fucked up bullshit is that? I just lost a good friend to breast cancer, and this isn't any easier.
Time for a change that's LONG overdue... -
Clash of the Titans was Harryhausen.
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He was one of those people whose name the general public did not know as well as the stars, but whose talent vastly improved the projects he worked on. If you saw his name, you knew the practical stuff was primo. Sorry to hear this.
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...I just saw a photo of Winston sitting next to Michael Jackson. Now THAT has to be Winston's work. I mean, really, Michael Jackson looks eerily alive and real some times. It's just a testament to the brilliance that was Stan Winston. He'll be missed. --G
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Thanks for the chuckle! I think Jacko is actually a blend of practical effects and CGI.
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Great artist and asset to the Hollywood scene. I once read some article, years ago, that talked about the Renaissance and how many of the great works we enjoy today were possible because of rich people/royalty helped foot the bill. They then basically compared Stan Winston to them as a sort of modern day equivalent...creating masterful works of art with the luxury of a big budget. He will be missed.
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Vic, you might be right. Jacko must be a blend. Though I still believe Ronald Regan was Jim Henson's last great creation, which just goes to show exactly how far Practical effects can be taken. --G
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But I'm going to go see Iron Man again tonight. Knowing it might be the last time I see his work on the big screen again.
I never met the man but he was very important to me. The movies he was involved in I see as classics. This is simply a huge loss. Movies will never be the same.
RIP Mr. Winston. You are and always will be a legend. -
The man was a legend. R.I.P.
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This is truely sad news. Only the Ain't it Cool audience is cool enought to fully understand the work that Stan has done and the impact he has had on films. The mass news outlets will report it on page 12 and people will just glance over it with no true understanding of the man's genius. His family and friends should know that his life work was admired and his talent will be missed.
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Stan Winston was tired of his work in creature effects.
It is known by numerous Hollywood insiders that he really "wanted to be storyteller". Using his prodigious skill to build himself a look alike George Lucas suit, the simulacrum was so lifelike, it fooled Spielberg. In this manner Winston's pet project, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was able to be made after numerous setbacks suffered under his true identity; creature visionary, Stan Winston.
Everyone knows this.
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Not the same snotty callousness that accompanies too many death notices on this site. Hope it's the start of a refreshing change on these talkbacks.
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very very sad indeed.
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Thank you, Mr. Winston. I grew up on movies like Terminator and Aliens, and your creations - all of them - will live on in the memories of so many filmgoers. Thank you for everything! R.I.P.
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kinda ironic or something that T4 is likely the last movie he worked on and T1 while maybe not the first, is probably where his career really took off. sorta full circle-ish.
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RIP STAN WINSTON,THE BEST IN PRACTICAL EFFECTS PERIOD!!! WHAT A RESUME THIS WIZARD HAD UNDER HIS BELT. HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED!
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Truely a Legend. He will be missed!
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We will never see the likes of his genius ever again.
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and thank you for everything you ever did to make the movies better. Seriously this fucking sucks. Too many greats are leaving the earth this year.
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He was frankly a huge influence in modern movies and produced some of the biggest thrills and gasps for decades. R.I.P.
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Oh this is a an awful shock. There was a film, a few years ago now, the name I won't mention, I was in two minds about seeing. Then I read the effects were being handled by Mr. Winston - and then I really wanted to see that film. It was OK, but the work of Mr. Winston was awesome. I went to the movies just to see his incredible FX in action, and was blown away. I can really think of no better tribute than that. RIP sir.
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Along with a few other great FX artists, the work of Stan Winston gave me the inspiration to learn make-up FX and sculpture. I have his book, The Winston Effect (autographed by him) and it's fantastic. This is such a great shame as I'm sure that Stan will have had so many more fantastical creatures and characters yet to show us. I'm hoping that the Stan Winston Studio continues, much like Henson's did after Jim Henson passed away. My condolences to his family.
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can't believe he died, does anyone know what killed him ?
What an awesome legacy. -
Never got to work with him. 62 is waaaaay too young. Dammit, dammit, dammit. It really is the ending of an era.
DAMMIT!!! -
Stan Winston did the effects work on EVERY one of my favorite films from my formative years. Back when i couldn't have cared less about story/script/etc, Winston did effects that really stirred my imagination. A true master of the craft.
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going to the Seattle Science Fiction Hall of Fame a couple of years ago and seeing the Predator mask up close. It was a revelation, I realised I was looking at a true work of Art. I remember saying to my buddy "look at the love that went into that". Seeing how detailed and meticulously crafted each of the beads in the "dreadlocks" were. Although the finale of the Hall of Fame is his Alien Queen, it's the Predator (probably because you could get INCHES away from it, thru the glass) that I remember best. If you call yourself a sci-fi/FX fan, and have never have been to the Hall of Fame, I can't recommend it highly enough. Thank you Mr Winston for the inspiration and the magic.
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Practical effects will never die, and cgi will never replace actors, just like photoshop will never replace drawing skills.
FUCK. This news is really pissing me off. Talk about a throne no one else is even close to taking over.
I know his shop was going digital, and was really hard to get in...aww, FUCK.
here's the AP story:
http://tinyurl.com/4rx2qh
and just to break your heart...
www.stanwinstonproductions.com
Long live practical. He still lives on at your local multiplex in Iron Man...and I've seen all three suits up close; they are so goddamn cool...
god DAMMIT!!!
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this is really crushing. I finally got to live out a dream and work on make-up f/x for a studio horror movie and most of that dream was inspired by the likes of Winston's craft. Rest in Peace, Stan the Man.
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This is heartbreaking news,a man who
more than most put his stamp on cinematic history!
Thanks for everything you gave us,
you will be sadly missed!
Legend! -
he made a monster with a pumpkin head scary....nuff said
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it was his most influential movie for me. Just spectacular work.
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...we'll miss all your future works and cherish all the ones that we saw come to life. I hope whoever takes over for you on the new Terminator trilogy does 10% as well as you did and we'll be in okay hands. Best wishes to the fam.
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What an incredible loss.
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By far one of if not the best craftsman working in film. Just a sad reminder that no one lives forever, even creative geniuses. There will come a time when all those who influenced us, brought smiles to our faces and hope to our hearts will pass on.
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When Arnie shoves the last grenade into T-1000's chest and it goes BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!! and the blasted thing still moves, making horrible noises of agony!!!!
FUCKIN AMAZING!!!! AMAZING I SAY!!!!!! omfg glorious sci-fi moments, and this guy made it possible, cant believe he's gone -
Stan was a part of my childhood, adding to my imagination of Aliens, Terminators, Things, dinosaurs and demons. Rest in Peace Stan, you will be greatly missed.
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What a terrible loss. Stan was a legend, a ture professional that made so many movies so much more special.
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it's at the Met, along with the Batman suit, Chris Reeve's superman suit, etc. A cool show...
http://www.metmuseum.org/home.asp -
Man was a genius, going to be much missed.
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He is one of my favorite movie artists. Just earlier this year, I ordered my very own personal copy of "A Gnome Named Gnorm". (Yeah, that's right. I admit it.) Mr. Winston's work inspired my own hopeless pathetic dream of a career in creature FX. May he rest in peace.
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Pollack, Korman, Russert, Newman (may have cancer) and now Winston? I respect all of these guys as masters of their disciplines... and they are dropping like flies... who is next Frank Oz?
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Why does this happen when we have douche bags like Carson Dailey, Ashton Kutcher, Diablo Codey and Uwe Boll walking around. Knock on their doors, Death, let the talented live.
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Stan was a brilliant talent
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I hope this blog post reaches you in whatever fantastic creature heaven you're lording over...rest in peace. :D
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Sure... most people that watch movies on a casual basis do not know who Stan Winston was. But most of us here know differently. Stan was a magician behind the camera. Making so many fantastical moments come to life on the screen. I can never express with words how great of a loss this is to the movies. But I will say that he will always be remember by film geeks like ourselves. And he will always have a place in our hearts with some of the amazing works he created. My sympathy goes out to his family and friends.
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A true creative genius, gone. There are too few practical effects people out there now and there is certainly no one who can even begin to fill his shoes. He was the absolute best at what he did. I also had no idea he was battling a serious health problem. Damn, this had been a really good day until this news.
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We should all get together and have a WORLD WIDE MOMENT OF SILENCE for one of the greatest effects wizards ever to grace our hearts and minds with movie magic. I'm not kidding. If we the readers and writers of AiCN got together we could make it happen. What do you guys and gals say? He deserves it.
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The father of modern special effects! Without him we'd still be using stop motion. Thank you for everything you've given us. Rest in peace
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His work will live on forever though and his place in Film Geek Valhalla is cemented.
So long man, your touch will be missed. -
Another great contributor to my childhood lost. A definite moment of silence for this.
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And I come back to THIS?! God damn it all... Rest in Peace Stan. Unlike other so-called "greats" , you were an honest-to-goodness LIVING legend, and now you are truly a Legend in ever sense of the word. Until we meet again.
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RIP Stan.
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Always a great admirer of his creations. Rest in peace Stan and thank you so much for all your great work.
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You are a legend and your work on movies ensures that you'll never be forgotten.
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No one cares enough to help me set up a WORLD WIDE MOMENT OF SILENCE? I've emailed others on the subject and encourage you to do the same. I started with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Come on people help me make this a reality. I can't do it on my own.
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Merci pour tout les bons souvenirs. Vous etes une reference dans le domaine et jamais au grand jamais ne nous vous oublierons.Repose en paix. (Thanx for all the memories. An icon of your domain, you'll never be forgotten. May you rest in peace.)
Hope all of you guys will understand that my french is better than my english, but I had to salute him the best i could. -
He's been around forever and it felt like he always would be. I know that he will, in a way, and am thankful for that. Who will take his mantle now?
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Rest in Peace Stan Winston, master of masters.
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Not a few hours ago I was telling someone how so many of the wonders they admired on the screen were all the work of Stan Winston. He wasn't just an effects whiz-kid - he made characters. As much or more a storyteller as the filmmakers he worked with, he was one of the few people whose work can be compared to Harryhausen, and Willis O'Brien.
I'm gonna have to go shed a fucking tear. Jesus. -
I pee'd next to him at a urinal at a Comic con in Chicago, (coming up again) and I broke the guy rule and told him I loved his work. Glad I did.
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love that terminator pic
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the best special-effects guy EVER. The one thing everyone at AICN can agree on.
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Rest in peace, Mr. Winston. What a great life!
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If someone said to me, you could achieve as much as Stan Winston, but you'll die at only age 62...I'd gladly make the trade off. Stan really did accomplish 10 lifetimes' worth of achievements. Stan grew up admiring the creations of Ray Harryhausen, but how many young people in the FX biz or hope to be in the FX biz have grown up admiring Stan Winston. Whether your dream is creature creation or something having nothing to do with Hollywood, you can still be inspired by Stan's accomplishments. Live life and dream.
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i drink a toast to the man who gave me the best god damn nightmares of my entire childhood, you made me who i am today. you will be greatly missed sir.
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I can't think of a single person working in film who has made as consistent and deep impression on me as Stan Winston.Rest in peace, Mr. Winston.
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In a time where cg is being overused and abused, his work was always a breath of fresh air. There will always be something special about creations and effects that you know you could actually reach out and touch. I hope in this digital age people remember guys like Winston, and don't let his method of creativity be replaced by computers. Goodbye Stan, and thank you.
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Shermdawg
I agree completely, well said. For example, the CGI in King Kong was breath taking, but somehow, and as a graphic designer myself whilst I'm not putting down those who work hard to make these effects ... doesn't the work for Jurassic Park (more than 10 years ago) seem more inspiring?
Sometimes you don't think about these things, you know? They come so unexpected, its really sad. Rest in Peace to Stan Winston and condolence's to his family and other loved ones. You are missed. -
...if more proof were needed. RIP Stan - the best there was.
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Did you have to mention Stan Lee? He's 85 years old. You've got me paranoid now.
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F the grim reaper with a scythe right up his boney ass!!
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FUCK!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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I was shocked when a friend called and told me this. His loss will be felt very hard and he will be greatly missed. Thanks for everything Stan.
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It sure is. Fucksocks.
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When a great artist and person is taken from us. You will be missed Stan. Rest in Peace.
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Man, I was truly shocked to read this - Iron Man was a great piece of work BUT J Park was phenomenal. It made is believe that dinos still existed.
Long live practical FX - its time for KNB and WETA to take the mantle that has been handed to them -
Damn. He was the greatest master of his craft. He will be missed. I guess now we can look forward to a future of all-CGI monsters. Bleh.
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Another plane of existence, another place to bring dreams to life! But, damn, we're the poorer for his absence.
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What terribly sad news. Met him on JP3. What a wonderfully lively and entertaining man. His work truly defined an era.
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Of the greats have gone.
RIP Mr. Winston. -
Big fan of Winston's work, have been since I was a little kid. Farewell my friend.
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One of the men responsible for some of my favorite movies gone! I am depressed. Thank you sir for your work (especially Aliens). R.I.P. sir.
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I scanned all 3 nightly news shows tonight and didn't see a mention of this. Tim Russert's death is still getting multiple network coverage a few days after his death, though. No disrespect to Tim, he seemed like a likeable guy and everyone said good things about him, but the average American is far more familiar with Stan Winston's work even if they don't know his name. They could at least have mentioned him. I hope to see a story about him on tomorrow's news with clips of all the awesome creatures he made. And the next Oscars should have at least a five minute tribute.
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I once saw a test make-up that Winston did for Burton's PLANET OF THE APES. I love Baker's work, but it would've been interesting to see what Winston would've done.
He will be missed. -
I thought for a second they were going to mention it, when they said a noteable person had died today, but it was some a-hole who was an advertising man and then made the infamous presidential campaign ad from the 50's with a little girl picking flowers and then a nuclear bomb goes off and kills her. The jerk who took campaign fearmongering to new levels and paved the way for idiots like Bush to say that we'll all die in terrorist attacks if we don't vote for him gets a mention, but a man who brought joy to millions with movie magic doesn't. Damn the media!!
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i just got home from work and seen the news ,wow how this sucks!may he rest in peace.
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Damn..the deaths this year have been so unexpected. This year sucks.
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That was a Lyndon Johnson ad against the Republican nominee Barry Goldwater in 1964. Johnson got us stuck in Vietnam instead.
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To one of my few heroes. Movies just lost a massive figure.
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Destiny can be a real asshole sometimes.
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A legend is gone.
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Stan Winston dies of cancer at 62
Monday June 16 6:29 PM ET
Stan Winston, the Oscar-winning special-effects maestro responsible for bringing the dinosaurs of "Jurrasic Park" and other iconic movie creatures to life, has died. He was 62.
Winston died at his home in Malibu surrounded by family on Sunday evening after a seven-year struggle with multiple myeloma, according to a representative from Stan Winston Studio.
Working with such directors as Steven Spielberg, James Cameron and Tim Burton in a career spanning four decades, Winston created some of the most memorable visual effects in cinematic history. He helped bring the dinosaurs from "Jurassic Park," the extraterrestrials from "Aliens, the robots from "Terminator" and even "Edward Scissorhands" to the big screen, and was a pioneer in merging real-world effects with computer imaging.
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"The entertainment industry has lost a genius, and I lost one of my b est friends with the death Sunday night of Stan Winston," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "Stan's work and four Oscars speak for themselves and will live on forever. What will live forever in my heart is the way that Stan loved everyone and treated each of his friends like they were family."
Winston won visual effects Oscars for 1986's "Aliens," 1992's "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" and 1993's "Jurassic Park." He also won a makeup Oscar for 1992's "Batman Returns."
Winston was nominated for his work on "Heartbeeps," "Predator," "Edward Scissorhands," "Batman Returns," "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" and "A.I."
He last worked with director Jon Favreau on "Iron Man."
"He was experienced and helped guide me while never losing his childlike enthusiasm," Favreau said in a statement. "He was the king of integrating practical effects with CGI, never losing his relevance in an ever changing industry. I am proud to have worked with him and we were looking forward to future collaborations. I knew that he was struggling, but I had no idea that he would be gone so soon. Hollywood has lost a shining star."
At the time of his death, Winston was in the process of transforming his physical makeup and effects studio into the new Winston Effects Group with a team of senior effects supervisors. Winton's most recent projects included "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins," "G.I. Joe," "Shutter Island" and Cameron's "Avatar."
As a child growing up in Virginia, Winston enjoyed drawing, puppetry and classic horror films. After graduating from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville in 1968, Winston moved to Southern California to become an actor but instead worked behind the scenes and completed a three-year makeup apprenticeship program at Walt Disney Studios in 1972.
Winston is survived by his wife, Karen; a son, daughter, brother and four grandchildren. -
I worked for him off and on through the years. A PURE GENIUS at his craft, but VERY difficult to work for. A complte two-faced, hook-nose, jew asshole, but you gotta respect what he brought into the industry. Me Joey, and the old skool crew will miss you deeply you stubborn old jew bastard. :-(
Rest in Peace Stanley Wienstien (his REAL name, actually) your legacy will live forever through all us FX shop monkeys and lab rats you taught. -
I will always remember the magic that you brought to the movies I love so much. Rest in peace man.
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Too many good people are dying of this disease. I could spend this time paying tribute to Stan's career, but this, I gather, is the best way to honor him. We need to stop cancer and cancerous tumors by any means necessary!!! The trillions that are being wasted on Iraq should be getting spent on cancer research. I know four people, directly and indirectky with brain tumors or cancer...and 4, who past away over the last 10 plus years, that is just too many!!! God Bless!!!
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The scene in Total Recall where an obviously fake Quaid is pulling the bug from his skull out of his nose had to be one of the funniest FX scenes ever. Yeah, you could tell it was totally fake but they pulled it off so well that it's one of my favorite scenes in an FX film.
On a more personal note, I just gotta say Stan kept it real, literally! And to lose him, especially with the advent of CGI, it's kind of an end of an era because no one had the skill or enginuity to make FX look convincing and real. He was a practical FX guy and his work stands out and is ten times better than any CGI character or effect that I have seen. I just hope that more people in Hollywood look at his body of work and realize that practical effects and make for a more immersive experience because they are actually there in space. Yes, it is a sad day but his work will live on and I gotta say that I think all of his work was fantastic. I think timeless decribes Stan Winston accurately. You will be missed. And thanks a lot for all the memories. -
for the part that says "Advertisement" on the last post... I didn't noticed it when I copy and pasted...
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...remain one of the pinnacles of his craft, and a big reason why the film still works 15 years later. You know instictively that the dinos are fake, but seeing that T-Rex head crashing through the roof of the car pinning those screaming kids under the glass of the sunroof still makes me cringe, knowing there's actually a few tons worth of ACTUAL DINOSAUR there in the shot. R.I.P, Stan. You were a genius, and Hollywood is worse off for losing you.
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this really hits hard - iconic name from many childhoods around here, no doubt - mine included!
Rest In Peace - may the Stop-Motion Gods accept your soul, one frame at a time -
1983--The year of Manimal and Mr. Roboto. When I was ten years old and I wanted to grow up and make movie monsters and robots. Thank you, Mr. Winston for all your inspiration:
Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, The Star Wars Holiday Special (even though Chewie's dad was atrocious), Manimal, Kilroy Was Here, Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Terminator, Aliens, Predator, Monster Squad, Alien Nation, Pumpkinhead, Predator 2, Edward Scissorhands, T2, Jurassic Park, Interview with a Vampire, Congo, Relic, Mouse Hunt, Small Soldiers, Galaxy Quest, AI: Artificial Intelligence, T3, Zathrua, War of the Worlds, Iron Man...
You will be seriously missed.
This year Fucking sucks. -
That was Rob Bottin, dude.
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I just watched Aliens last weekend too for the first time in months, the day before he died. It's a spooky co-incidence, because I also consumed a copious amount of prescription medication the night Heath Ledger died. I don't think anyone needs to hear the similar coincidence surrounding Michael Hutchins death...
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There will never be another man who can build a fake Schwartzenegger head quite like you could...
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But I was also watching Predator and like someone had pointed out, the design on the creature is some of the most brilliant work ever seen in Sci-fi. I remember having nightmares the day before I saw the movie because my cousin pointed me to a still from the movie that had the exposed Predator face. To have nightmares before seeing the movie just goes to show the damn powerful work that Stan put into his creations.
Also the work on T2 was fantastic. I had always wondered how they got Schwarzenneger's face to accomodate the prosthetics they put on at the end of the film because they seriously look like they're under his real skin. Great stuff.
Another thing, just looking at the work that went into Jurassic Park. That has to be the absolute pinnacle of special FX. You got the incredible, never seen again quality of the CG dinos, then you got the close ups and the practical animatronics that Stan did with his team which made for a great, flawless juxtaposition that, in my opinion, hasn't been done since.
AI might be hated by all for its story but the FX they used for the androids and stuff was also very well done, though subtly at times I think. A full on animatronic teddy bear was awesome. what kid wouldn't want that? Then for the guys here, who wouldn't want a sex bot that looked like some of those women in that film? I'm sure some of the ladies here on AICN wouldn't mind a Gigolo Joe android that dances and changes hair color among other stuff. -
This fuckin' sucks!!
RIP Mr. Winston. -
Over 400 comments preceding mine, so nothing I can really add-
Someone asked though-Who's next?
Seen pics of Paul Newman lately?(That'll be a tsunami)
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While he's certainly controversial-(Several decades since he made his mark)
Stan "The Man" Lee certainly is a major cultural icon & while he seems to be in excellent health-
Younger men than him have dropped dead without warning-
Meanwhile, scumbag politicians seem to live forever. -
Jun 16, 2008 11:38:10 PM CDT
Stan Winston was THE man who gave Jim Cameron's career a boost
by badwaldo s revenge
Starting with THE TERMINATOR.If it were not for Stan Winston's genius as a special effects designer master in FX make-up, etc. James Cameron would have a hard time getting off the ground to make kick-ass movies. I consider Stan W. the other man responsible for creating the world of TERMINATOR as an indelible icon of pop culture in film, comic book, toy, video game (Arcade Game was awesome), etc. Though Stan directed subpar movies like PUMPKINHEAD (it's a guilty pleasure for me), he lives on in movie history as a superlative FX artist who created the terrifying monsters of JURASSIC PARK and countless films.Here's California champagne glass to your life work, Stan. Without you, Steven Spielberg would have a difficult time realizing the vision of JURASSIC PARK. You are a single reason James Cameron is now a wildly successful filmmaker. Rest in peace!
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What a loss to the film making community. I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Winston a few years back when my company Media Temple designed all of their websites. It was around the time that they were producing their toy line, which didn't do so well, and I have to say that it is one of the highlights of my life. I spent several months at the studio and I was like a kid in a candy shop. Lucky for me, it was also at the time that T3 was coming out so I got to see all of the artists and technicians at work on one of my all time favorite franchises. I still have my first check from Stan Winston Studios in a frame along with my first check from Johnny Depp when I worked with him on the Viper Room. When I saw the news, my heart dropped straight out of my chest. I can't believe this. I refuse to believe it....DAMMIT!!! RIP Stan!! Hollywood needs you! FUCK!! I'm depressed.
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His work is what makes Jurassic Park III watchable for me. He will be missed by everyone and anyone who cares for spectacular movie making.
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I loved his work.
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I just got off work and this is the first thing I've read today...
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Last time I saw him, he was in good shape, friendly and talkative. It makes sense now why he closed his shop a few years ago. More than likely, whatever what was ailing him, he kept it to himself and didn't want to worry anyone. A talented man, a good guy all around. A sad day indeed.
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This is an impressive tribute to his work, and as great as Stan's work was, it was nothing compared to the man himself. I wish all of you could have known him personally. He truly was a great, generous, and instantly likeable man. He was humble about his success, and he loved his family. Truly a great, great man. He will be sorely missed by his family.
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I already told my wife I was gonna cry myself to sleep tonight because of this. This truly sucks. FUCK!
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I just saw this over at IGN, what fucked up news. Stan was one of my idols, R.I.P.
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If anyone is interested, I found the pictures I took of his display room. This is the room he would bring his potential clients that would never cease to blow their minds. Talk about closing the deal. These pictures were taken for a quicktime 360 project we were working on that never made it on to the website and despite the fact that I was the President of the company and would not be doing any of the production work, I decided that this project was too important and I'd best personally oversee the photoshoot...And I wanted to play in the big toy room :-). We spent all day in this room taking these pictures. The mirrors behind the props made it extremely difficult to take the pictures without getting in the pictures ourselves. If you look closely, you might see a foot sticking out from behind the conference room table where we would hide while we snapped the pictures. As you can see, Stan produced some of the most iconic creatures in motion picture history. I felt like I was in an art gallery and I kept getting in trouble for touching the props but I couldn't help it...The pictures are all high res, so enjoy! http://tinyurl.com/5jrk7u. I just checked online, and apparently the websites that we designed are still online..Don't laugh! These were designed back when Flash was still brand new. Stan was kinda cheap so our subsequent attempts to get him to redesign the websites were to no avail. http://www.stanwinstonstudio.com/home.html and http://www.stanwinstonproductions.com/. Thank you Stan!! I will never forget you!
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Never heard of him, but from the looks of it the man has been more a part of my movie-going life than I thought. God bless him.
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I'm so sad to hear this. His contributions to cinema in the past 25 years are indelible. He's one of those individuals with whom the words "fantastic" and "imagination" will always be associated. I miss him already.
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Is it possible we could make a new topic, one that once again goes through who we've lost but what they've done- a list of movies to watch, something of that sort. The suggestion might seem terribly tasteless, but it's the only way everyone's respective legacy is going to continue in a very short term sense, and with that list there could be sharing afterwards of our impressions and everything. This is what these people did, and it might be nice to reaffirm that together. I hope I haven't offended anyone with this thought. My thoughts do go out to Mr. Winston's loved ones, and I hope for the best.
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Sad sad news.R.I.P., Stan Winston.
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wonder and fun to the world. It reminds me of when Henson passed. RIP Mr. Winston.
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The word legend is used far to much, but in this case it is 100% true.
Thank you Stan for all the hours and hours of pleasure your work has given me and will continue to give me. Rest in peace -
...when I think that just about every movie I grew up loving had the name Stan Winston in the credits. Rest in Peace, Sir.
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i was always really interested in a film project whenever his name was attached. what a legend. RIP.
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but sincere condolences, very sad news. Had an insane respect for this mans work and his name being attached to a project was guaranteed to raise my interest considerably.
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I had no idea he was sick for 7 years. damn this is sad news indeed as the guy was brilliant, he was CGI before there was CGI.I thank him for all his contributions in fantasy cinema and not to mention some of my all time favorite movies: Aliens,Terminator and now Ironman.
Godspeed Stan, you were the muthafucking man!! -
in cinema history is gone. Rest in peace Stan. You'll be missed.
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Thank you for all the brilliant work and amazing movies.
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Sorry, the password to the Stan Winston Display Room Gallery is "mainstreet". Here is the URL again, http://tinyurl.com/5jrk7u.
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A terrible day for movie fans. The guy's contribution to the last 25 years of cinema is utterly immense and iconic. What a shite year this is turning out to be - Scheider, Ledger, Winston. Death, I say to you in the manner of the original T-800: Fuck you asshole.
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R.I.P. Stan
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Bummer news indeed
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your racist views in an rip thread...very enlightening...specially as almost everyone else who worked for or with stan saw him totally as something else...got to meet him once at the con...i thought he was a nice, quiet guy...his vision and work impacted a generation of filmmakers and he will indeed live forever...
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That's bummed my day right out. Sad news, this is a tragic loss to the movie world :( R.I.P. Stan.
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Alzheimers robs you of everything we take for granted...your fuckin' personality and memory.
It leaves you like a vegetable before it kills you. This shit is cruel and it's growing. Stan Winston, thanks for the memories (while we got 'em). -
Terminator, Aliens, Predator - these movies are the reason I fell in love with films as a boy, and they were so powerful because of their imagery, because of what monsters, heroes and foes this man helped create. This is a very sad day indeed. Rest in Peace.
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Missed on earth, loved in our memories.
Bye master.
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My heart goes out to his family and my community of fellow "geeks." When you heard the name Stan Winston attached to a movie you knew you would be in for a visual treat. Hopefully (and I'm sure of it) Stan has passed on his knowledge to his fellow creature shop students. May his legacy live on.
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Stan was the best.
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...in honor of the man. What a visionary. He will be missed.
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Only just read this, as a major fan of his works, this is plain bad news.
Fantastic legacy he left though, love Pumkinhead, the Alien Queen, Predator, well everything he came up with was just great, forget about all the pixels we're bombarded with these days, real prosthetics, puppets and creatures are what make all those movies we all love so much worth watching over again. R.I.P Mr. Winston, and thanks for your great work on all those teriffic movies. -
This is just about the shittiest thing i've heard in ages, it's just so very wrong.
My heart and thoughts go out to his family and friends. To lose such a genuine genius and, by all accounts, a stand up guy is bad enough. But for it to be the man that has helped shape and form my most cherished memories of film, is just ....... ghaaa! I really don't have the words.
Take care Stan. -
Everyone is dying. Ledger, Minghella, Pollack, Heston, Scheider. Now Stan Winston? I cannot process this.
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They all had some incurable illness. Swayze is dying too(though his people deny it-they say swayze is responding well to treatment. Panc C is the worst kind of cancer to get) and so is Newman.
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I could not believe it when I got to work this morning and logged into my computer. Not the way I wanted to start the day. This is such a sad day indeed. Rest In Peace effects master Winston, you will be truly missed.
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fuck
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Working in the VFX field myself I never truly realized how much of an effect this man had on me until now, I poured over books, films and have shared moments with my own peers based on these film when growing up that they are part of some of my great childhood moments.
I feel like I've somehow lost a mentor without being over the top, me being born in 1980 pretty much everything I focused on as a benchmark in VFX could almost be attributed to this guy alone...
He will be missed by me my peers and no doubt all who dream of making great films.... -
This is very sad news....a living legend no more :(
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I have just learned about the death of Stan Winston -- don't know what to say. I am very sad for his family.
I grew up watching creature features, and loved special effects, and Winston was a legend. Predator, Aliens, Terminator... iconic work. The entire T-rex attack sequence in Jurassic Park kicks so much ass, and it should serve as the example of how to mesh practicle effects and CGI into something truly believable. A great loss for movie fans. -
I don't believe it. He wasn't even that old. This is terrible. He was one of my hero's without a doubt. Such a great loss to the world of film. His work will imortalise him
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He was a nice guy and very easy to talk to. That's rare in the industry. Too many of the successful people are more like Romero, who is, quite frankly, a dick.
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ya this does suck.
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..he is the reason, directly or indirectly, alot of us visited this site in the first place. Jurassic Park turned me into a movie nerd. Thanks Stan.
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sucks.
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...a true genious at visual FX, and from what I've read, a genuine guy. I'll raise a glass to Stan tonight, and dig out one of his many classics. Godspeed!
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He's had such a huge impact on some of my favourite ever films, he will be truly missed.
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this is what i get when i disappear for a while and only look at the new york times online: the shock of the month. jesus christos!? one of the greats. your legacy lives on, man.
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This Stan was THE MAN. The crappy over-use of CGI doesn’t stand up to his work at all….(it works best in conjunction with Stan’s brilliant work….RIP Stan you were the best.
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Stan Winston created creatures beyond the fold and brought under his direction the most talented people in the field. My girlfriend and I snapped up the Winston Effect when we saw it at Barnes and Noble and it was outstanding. He was quoted as saying that the book was his favorite creation, and that he wanted it to inspire people to join the industry and try to fil his shoes. I've dicked around too long with irrelevant things, it's time I stepped up to the plate for Stan Winston and put all my effort into visual effects. My goal is to find a place in the effects industry and one day call Stan Winston Studios home.
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Thanks for the ride Sir!
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A shame indeed.
However...what's your favourite Stan Creation?
For me..Predator -
thanks for all those amazing moments on film.
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Mr Winston. And my heart and thoughts go to all your friends and family. You changed the face of cinema with your designs and use of effects, and the way you used your expertise to enhance films from The Terminator to Galaxy Quest showed the range you have. Rest in peace, all movie lovers have lost a real star.
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For why LOTR was so fucking awesome...or why Pan's Labyrinth's effects were practical and CGI. Winston was a pioneer, and immediately adapted to whatever effects technology came next. He was one of my heroes, because he did things with rubber and plastic that ended up being magic. So long, Stan, you will be missed.
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Thanks for the creatures, the monsters and the robots. Two words: Alien fucking Queen. All right that's 3 but you know what I mean. Rest in peace, sunshine but do us one last thing; come back and haunt those two cockheads Gillis and Woodruff. Safe journey, brother.
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Normally I read these obituaries on here and I can honestly say I don't give a fuck. But not this time.
Jesus christ, it feels like someone has ripped my heart out and shat in my chest cavity.
RIP Stan, you made my childhoold come alive with flights of fancy. -
I've just found out about the loss of the legend Stan Winston - to say the least it was like a kick in the stomach and embarrassingly i've shed a few tears. Stan was a god in his field and an inspiration to an uncountable amount of people, he will be truly missed by all. My thoughts are with his family at this sad time. Rest easy Stan and thankyou for all you have done.
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