The man responsible for the stunning visual effects on such horror classics as Blade and Hellboy recently passed away.
Edward Irastorza–who also served as visual effects supervisor on Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-winning Pan’s Labyrinth–passed away of an undisclosed illness at the age of 52, according to Deadline.
The news was announced by his sister on Facebook. “It is with great sadness that I need to tell you that my brother Edward has passed away,” she wrote. “Even though he had been very sick for just over a year, we were not expecting him to go when he did.”
Irastorza began his career working with special effects guru Phil Tippett–who worked on the original Star Wars and RoboCop–before beginning a working relationship with del Toro. The two worked together on Blade II in 2002, following Irastorza’s collaboration with director Stephen Norrington on the original 1998 Blade.
Following that, Irastorza teamed with del Toro again on 2004’s Hellboy and 2006’s Pan’s Labyrinth, earning screen credits as visual effects producer and supervisor on both films. Irastorza also worked with Robert Rodriguez on 2005’s Sin City and The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lavagirl in 3–D.
“Edward Irastorza was a great collaborator and artist, and he came to digital effects through a traditional, analog background,” del Toro said. “He was flexible, affable and full of creativity. One of the best VFX supervisors I ever met.”
In recognition of his talent and accomplishments, Irastorza was nominated for several awards, and received the Best Special Effects Award at the Goya Awards–Spain’s equivalent of the Academy Awards.
The staff of Horror News Network extends its condolences to Irastorza’s family, friends and colleagues.
