• Entertainment
  • movies

Alien Director Ridley Scott Remembers H.R. Giger: “He Was a True Original”

1 minute read

H.R. Giger, the set designer largely responsible for the iconic visual effects of the 1979 film Alien, died on Monday at the age of 74. In the wake of his passing, Alien director Ridley Scott issued this statement to TIME, recalling their collaboration on the at Shepperton Studios in London:

“I am very saddened to hear of Giger’s passing. I think back on how committed and passionate he was, and then consequently, all the security we built up around his ‘lock up’ studios at Shepperton. I was the only one allowed the honor of going in, and I absolutely enjoyed every hour I spent with him there. He was a real artist and great eccentric, a true original, but above all, he was a really nice man. He will be missed.”

Inside The Surreal World of H.R. Giger, The Maker of Alien’s Alien

H. R. Giger
Visual artist H. R. Giger. Dana Frank/Ovoworks—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
H. R. Giger
Visual artist H. R. Giger taking off face mask.Dana Frank/Ovoworks—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
H. R. Giger
Portrait of artist H. R. Giger with his mask over his face. Dana Frank/Ovoworks—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Switzerland - Tourism - The Giger Bar
A view of the "The Giger Bar" in the canton of Grisons. The bar was designed and is owned by H.R. Giger.Martin Ruetschi—Keystone/Corbis
Opening of the ars electronica exhibition
View at one of the sculptures by H.R. Giger during the opening of the Ars Electronica 2013 exhibition 'HR Giger.Rubera—EPA
Traeume und Visionen - Exhibition in Vienna
HR Giger's exhibition 'Traeume und Visionen' (Dreams and Visions) at the Kunsthaus Wien in Vienna on March 8, 2011.Robert Jaeger—EPA
'Swiss Design in Hollywood' exhibition, at the Technical University of Valecia
H.R.Giger's 'Watchguardian, head V', on display at the 'Swiss Design in Hollywood' exhibition, at the Technical University of Valecia, Spain on March 4, 2009.Juan Carlos Cardenas—EPA/Corbis
Traeume und Visionen - Exhibition in Vienna
HR Giger's 'Alien' at the exhibition 'Traeume und Visionen' (Dreams and Visions) at the Kunsthaus Wien in Vienna on March 8, 2011. Robert Jaeger—EPA
Opening of the ars electronica exhibition
Sculptures by H.R. Giger during the opening of the Ars Electronica 2013 exhibition 'HR Giger.Rubera—EPA
Opening of the ars electronica exhibition
Sculpture by H.R. Giger during the opening of the Ars Electronica 2013 exhibition 'HR Giger.Rubera—EPA
Opening of the ars electronica exhibition
Sculptures by H.R. Giger during the opening of the Ars Electronica 2013 exhibition 'HR Giger.Rubera—EPA
Photo of MICROPHONE and KORN
H.R Giger designed the microphone stand, made for Jonathan Davis of KORN. Marc Broussely—Broussely/Redferns/Getty Images
Traeume und Visionen - Exhibition in Vienna
HR Giger's 'Li I' at the exhibition 'Traeume und Visionen' (Dreams and Visions) at the Kunsthaus Wien in Vienna on March 8, 2011.Robert Jaeger—EPA
H.R. Giger, Artist and Provocateur
Giger may be best known for his design of the "Alien" movie monster.Louie Psihoyos—Corbis

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com