Greg Hildebrandt, artist and illustrator best known for his work in Star Wars, Marvel Masterpieces, Magic: The Gathering and The Lord of the Rings alongside his late twin brother, has died at the age of 85. Hildebrandt's wife Jean Scrocco posted the news that her husband of 15 years, and partner for over 30 years, died October 31st. She wrote "The light has gone out in my life. At 12:36 pm this afternoon [October 31], the love of my life, my best friend and soulmate passed away. Greg was 85 years young. He was the sweetest man I ever knew. We worked together for 45 years. We lived together for 33 of those years. We had a beautiful life we were blessed. Greg has been fighting for 5 months to regain his ability to breathe after a serious side effect of a heart medication. He fought very hard to win this battle but in the end he was just too weak. He passed away peacefully in my arms. He knew he was safe and he was loved and he will be missed terribly. I cannot imagine my life without him. He was my guy, yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever. You are my heart and it is broken!"
The Hildebrants work included the very first Star Wars movie with Luke Skywalker holding a lightsaber over his head, which came after their artwork for the official The Lord of the Rings calendars. And their Marvel Masterpieces work for Marvel Comics, and their trading cards spurred an entire industry. Tim Hildebrandt died in 2006, aged 67. I met them both once, with Nick Barrucci, in a bar in London, and their energy and passion for everything pop culture, in their sixties then, was evident.
Individually, Greg contributed to the art for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's albums and concert merchandise, Black Sabbath's Mob Rules album, his American Beauties pinup art and covers for IDW Star Trek comics. He also illustrated classic fiction Greg Hildebrandt's Favorite Fairy Tales, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Cottontail's Surprise, Peter Pan and Robin Hood to Dracula, Poe: Stories and Poems and The Phantom of the Opera. He recently contributed to Operation USA's benefit anthology book, Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds.
GREG HILDEBRANDT
1939 - 2024
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