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Coolwaters Production LLC has just announced on their Facebook page that Special Effects Artist Joe Viskocil has passed away from complications following liver/kidney failure. Here is the announcement.
For Immediate release:
Academy Award Winner Joe Viskocil passed away on Monday August 11, 2014 from complications of liver/kidney failure. He went peacefully and was with loved ones. A memorial or celebration of life will be planned for family and friends at a later time. Joe’s manager and friend Derek Maki commented, “I have just learned the news and I am deeply sadden by this loss. Joe loved life and was a true friend, he will be deeply missed.”
Friends and family ask for time to deal with the loss and Joe’s affairs.
Joe Viskocil was hired in 1975 by director George Lucas to work on a film project. Joe, along with other special effects artists, was asked to create things that no one had ever seen before, and to do it from scratch. It took over a year of tedious work, but in the end, if not for Joe Viskocil, Luke Skywalker would not have been able to destroy the Death Star in the climactic ending sequence of STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE. That is because it was Joe who actually produced the blast effect a year before any audience member would see it. Using models, Joe Viskocil created that spectacular explosion that has earned a permanent place in the memories of many fans. His successful work on STAR WARS gave Joe another chance to work with Lucas on STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Examples of his stunning achievements can be seen in the Imperial AT-AT invasion of the rebel base on the ice planet Hoth. Though the actual height of the AT-AT models was only 2 feet, Joe skillfully created the on-screen illusion of the immense size of the imperial walkers, making them appear 200 feet tall to an unsuspecting audience. Joe’s successful work on the original trilogy has allowed him to open his own fully-working special effects shop in Hollywood. Joe and his company have been hired to create the fantastic destructive explosions seen in TERMINATOR, TRUE LIES, INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE and GODZILLA . He won an Academy Award for his accomplishments in INDEPENDENCE DAY. Other films on Joe’s resume include in the thriller THE PANIC ROOM and STAR TREK NEMESIS.
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Mr. Viskocil appeared at the Motor City Comic Con in 2013 and Coolwaters offered “Can Not Attend” autograph opportunities for collectors. This seems to have been one of his final convention appearances. I did not recognize his name, but took advantage of the opportunity and ordered one autograph from the show. You never know when an opportunity may be your last.
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Joe Viskocil: December 21,1950 – August 11, 2014
