Stuart Freeborn, a makeup artist best known for his work on George Lucas' "Star Wars" movies as well as Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey," has died in London at the age of 98.
Born in 1914 in Leytonstone, England, Freeborn was largely self-taught. Some of his most recognizable creations include the apes from the "Dawn of man" sequence in "2001: A Space Odyssey," as well as Yoda and Chewbacca from "Star Wars".
He also worked as a makeup supervisor on the "Superman" films, as well as Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove".
"Stuart was already a makeup legend when he started on Star Wars," said George Lucas in a statement.
"He brought with him not only decades of experience, but boundless creative energy. His artistry and craftsmanship will live on forever in the characters he created. His Star Wars creatures may be reinterpreted in new forms by new generations, but at their heart, they continue to be what Stuart created for the original films," said Lucas.