Star Wars conceptual artist Ralph McQuarrie dies

Mention the name "Ralph McQuarrie", and any geek ("sci-fi" or otherwise) would more likely link him to the Star Wars trilogy - for he has been extremely well known to have designed for 'A New Hope', 'The Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return Of The Jedi'.

A cursory glance thru the website www.ralphmcquarrie.com will see you rewarded with images and drawings galore, including work for other film properties like Battlestar Galactica, Back To The Future, ET, Forbidden Planet, Star Trek and more. Alas, Mr McQuarrie has since left us to journey among the stars in the afterlife, when he passed on March 3rd, 2012.

Ralph McQuarrie, the man credited with bringing director George Lucas' vision for "Star Wars" to the big screen, has died at the age of 82.

McQuarrie's conceptual designs were the basis for some of the trilogy's iconic characters such as Darth Vader, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO.

A statement on McQuarrie's official website, posted after his death Saturday, said his influence on design will be felt forever.

McQuarrie also helped to create concept designs for the original Battlestar Galactica TV show, along with the movies "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

McQuarrie's conceptual work on the 1985 film, "Cocoon," won him the Academy Award for Visual Effects.

More on CNN

R.I.P. Ralph McQuarrie