Credit: LucasfilmJeff Olson, who spent nearly 25 years as a visual effects producer working on several Star Wars and Disney titles, died on June 21, 2026. He was 77. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Olson, and two children.
Olson joined Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) as a model maker in 1985, ten years after George Lucas founded the premier visual effects studio alongside the production of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977). His early credits as a model maker included Howard the Duck (1986), Willow (1988), Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988), Caddyshack II (1988), Ghostbusters II (1989), Back to the Future Part III (1990), and Die Hard 2 (1990). He later served as a model supervisor on Backdraft (1991) and Star Trek: Generations (1994) and a model manager on Congo (1995).
In the mid-1990s, Olson was promoted to VFX producer. His credits in that role include Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace (1999), Signs (2002), Dreamcatcher (2003), Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003), A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004), Are We There Yet? (2005), Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005), Rush Hour 3 (2007), The Happening (2008), Star Trek (2009), and more. Olson also worked on Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007) as a stage producer.
During his time at ILM, Olson appeared on screen in an uncredited role as a pod race spectator in Jabba’s private box in Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace.
ILM announced Olson’s death on Instagram on Wednesday:
The ILM community is heartbroken to lose our dear friend and former colleague Jeff Olson. Over nearly 25 years with the company, Jeff worked as a modelmaker, model supervisor, and visual effects producer on many classic projects, from Willow and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? to Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and A Series of Unfortunate Events. His career spanned momentous change in the art form and industry, and no matter the techniques employed on a given show, Jeff was always committed to the team, leading his crews with humor and kindness.
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Olson left ILM in 2009, three years before The Walt Disney Company purchased the studio and Lucasfilm as part of its acquisition of the Star Wars franchise. From there, he joined Polygon Entertainment as a VFX producer and worked on Tidal Wave (2009) and Priest (2011), as well as several commercials.
One of Olson’s final credits includes his work as a stereo visual effects manager with Legend3D for Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011). He also executive-produced a short film called Activated (2005).
The Inside the Magic team sends condolences to Jeff Olson’s loved ones.
