Guillermo del Toro Pays Tribute to Late ‘E.T.’ Designer Carlo Rambaldi Ahead of Hollywood Walk of Fame Honor: ‘A Worldwide Maestro of Magic’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Italian special effects artist Carlo Rambaldi is receiving a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with filmmaker Guillermo del Toro praising his influence on cinema. Del Toro said Rambaldi’s craftsmanship and character design helped shape generations of special effects work.
Rambaldi, who died in 2012 aged 86, won three Academy Awards for “King Kong”, “Alien” and “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”, whose title character he designed. He also worked with Steven Spielberg on “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, and collaborated with directors including David Lynch, Federico Fellini and Ridley Scott. The ceremony is taking place at 1611 Vine Street, with family members and representatives from Cinecittà and the special effects community attending.
- Carlo Rambaldi is receiving a posthumous Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
- He won three Oscars for special effects.
- Guillermo del Toro praised his lasting influence on cinema.
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Carlo Rambaldi was an Italian artist who created mechanical creatures and other special effects for films. His work helped make imagined characters feel lifelike on screen, at a time when many effects were built by hand.
Rambaldi designed E.T. and worked on films including King Kong, Alien and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. He won three Academy Awards for his effects work, and collaborated with directors such as Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, Federico Fellini and David Lynch.
His influence can be seen in later generations of film effects artists, including filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, who has spoken about Rambaldi’s craft and character design. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame recognises people whose work has made a lasting mark on entertainment.