Tony Dyson was one of the original builders behind R2-D2 for Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. Dyson was commissioned by John Stears, the lead special effects supervisor, to create eight versions of the droid based upon the concept art by Ralph McQuarrie. Dyson was also involved in the special effects for the films Superman II, Moonraker, Dragonslayer, Altered States, and Saturn 3. On March 3, 2016 it was reported that Dyson had died in his Maltese home at the age of 68.