Gregory Jein recently died at the age of 76 (Image via MikeOkuda/Twitter)

Who was Gregory Jein? Tributes pour in as Star Trek icon dies aged 76

Modified Jul 01, 2022 18:50 GMT

Well-known model designer Gregory Jein passed away on May 22, 2022, at the age of 76. Jein died as a result of cardiac arrest following a battle with several health problems including diabetes.

A spokeswoman for his family revealed that they had decided not to reveal anything for personal reasons.

Michael Okuda

@MikeOkuda

Deeply saddened by passing of legendary modelmaker Gregory Jein, whose work ranged from Dark Star to Firefox, Buckaroo Banzai, Hunt for Red October, Close Encounters and Star Trek. The world of fantastic filmmaking has gotten a little smaller with the passing of Greg Jein.

JoeRalat

@JoeRalat

RIP Greg Jein. Thank You for your contribution to movie magic!

Everything known about Gregory Jein

Gregory Jein became popular for creating miniatures for special effects in films and TV series (Image via LukasKendall/Twitter)

Born on October 31, 1945, Gregory Jein attended Audubon Junior High, Dorsey High School, and Cal State Los Angeles to complete his education.

Jein created miniatures for use in special effects for various films and television series in the 1970s. He started his career by building models for the 1974 s*x comedy movie, Flesh Gordon.

He continued to work on TV series, commercials, and movies, but Steven Spielberg’s 1977 science-fiction film Close Encounters of the Third Kind proved to be his big break. He made many models for the film, including miniature landscapes for UFOs and a mothership model which was featured in the climax. Jein and his team were nominated in the category for Best Visual Effects at the 50th Academy Awards.

Jein once again collaborated with Spielberg on the 1979 period film 1941. His team was once again nominated in the category for Best Visual Effects, this time at the 52nd Academy Awards.

His contribution to the 1979 science-fiction film Star Trek: The Motion Picture was significant. He built planetary models for Spock’s spacewalk scene alongside the interior of V’Ger craft.

Jein remained a part of the Star Trek franchise for a long time, and worked on Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country as well. Gregory’s team built a six-foot model of the USS Enterprise for the pilot of Star Trek: The Next Generation. He also built the Ferengi Marauder starship in Season 1 and Klingon Vor’cha in Season 4.

Jein was nominated at the Emmy Awards for his work on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and the HBO miniseries Angels in America. Mulan, The Dark Knight Rises, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, Judge Dredd, Avatar, John Carter, and Alice Through the Looking Glass are just a few of the other films he has been involved in.

Netizens pay tribute on Twitter

Gregory Jein and his team worked on several movies that went on to become cult classics. So, he gained widespread recognition. Twitter was flooded with tributes when the news of his death went viral:

Charles de Lauzirika

@Lauzirika

Hearing that legendary model maker Greg Jein has passed. His mind-blowing work on CE3K, STAR TREK TMP, 1941 (which features some of my favorite miniatures of his) — and many others — inspired me as a kid, leading me to believe that if you could dream it, you could build it. twitter.com/TheSpaceshippe…

The Spaceshipper 🚀

@TheSpaceshipper

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977): UFOs on the road, models & model maker Greg Jein

Hal Hickel

@halhickel

I am so, so sad to hear of Greg Jein’s passing. A master model maker whose name I read countless times in VFX articles. I have multiple friends who have shared wonderful stories of visiting Greg at his home, and seeing the wonders there. What a giant. Condolences to his family.

Bill Mudron

@mudron

I’m legit surprised at how bummed I am at the news of Greg Jein’s death - I’ve been reading behind-the-scenes movie/special effects books my entire life, and there’s no one I saw more often working on the models for so many things we 80s babies adore than Greg Jein. twitter.com/agraphafx/stat…

johnnyB

@agraphafx

Randall Cooper:

My Memories of Greg Jein

youtu.be/cX-Ui7BUpL0

Robert Meyer Burnett - Viceroy of Verisimilitude

@BurnettRM

Rest in Pieces (polystyrene) to the amazingly talented GREG JEIN, the VFX and model maker maestro whos talents are on display in some of the greatest genre films of all time, including Spielberg's CLOSE ENCOUNTERS and 1941. Only met him a few times, but he was a very kind soul.

johnnyB

@agraphafx

Greg Jein left is a few weeks ago. The family had asked for some time, but news has spread today via Rick Sternbach.

His work inspired me my whole life.

I will miss my friend.

Will McCrabb

@mccrabb_will

R.I.P. to model making master Greg Jein.
This was his model of the Mother Ship from Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
With some familiar friends as a secret addition.

Ricardo Delgado

@Delgadosaurus

Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the great Greg Jein, here with Dan Tanaka, Lou Zutavern and yours truly at a lunch about a month before COVID hit. His miniatures on CLOSE ENCOUNTERS were amazing, but the best thing about Greg was that he was a nice guy. RIP Greg Jein.

Chris Tashima

@christashima

In high school, saw pictures in Cinefantastique magazine of @GregJein working on models for #CE3K, and was in awe. He was a big inspiration for my wanting to make movies. I got to meet him at @TheAcademy years later and told him so. He just chuckled.

Gregory Jein
1945–2022

Paul Franklin

@paul_franklin_

Very sad to hear of Greg Jein’s passing. I was lucky enough to work with him on The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar. A friendly, quiet and modest guy, but we were all very aware of his stellar track record on so many amazing movies. twitter.com/markaburman/st…

mark burman

@markaburman

Greg Jein-Master Builder. Now twinkling in the night sky above Devil's Tower. Another VFX magician gone.

Anthony Taylor

@GoAnthonyTaylor

Very sad to finally be able to talk about the passing of my friend Greg Jein, on May 22nd. He was perhaps the most talented and well known model maker in the film business, and a collector of original props, costumes and miniatures. Sail on amigo, you were one of a kind.

His work will continue to live on in the hearts of fans across the world. Further details regarding his funeral are yet to be revealed.

Edited by
Mohini Banerjee