Emmy-nominated costume designer Shawna Trpcic, recognized for her contributions to various Star Wars series on Disney+ and for her collaborations with Joss Whedon, has passed away at 56, as confirmed by her agency Gersh and Lucasfilm. The specifics regarding her demise haven’t been disclosed, though it came as a surprise, given that she was active on Instagram, documenting a desert journey just three days prior.
Lucasfilm dedicated a Los Angeles-based warehouse to house the myriad of costumes she designed over her illustrious career.
Lucasfilm’s tribute to Trpcic highlighted her dedication, stating, “She was widely regarded as a Star Wars aficionado amongst her colleagues, immersing herself in every available behind-the-scenes book to grasp the evolution of techniques across different cinematic periods.”
Trpcic, a native of Artesia, California, had a lifelong passion for science fiction and comic books. She pursued fashion at the Otis College of Art and Design, where she had the opportunity to work with Bob Mackie’s team during her final year.
She embarked on her Hollywood journey by illustrating for Albert Wolsky for the Academy Award-winning film, Bugsy. Soon after, she became Wolsky’s assistant for Barry Levinson’s film, Toys. Over the years, Trpcic carved a niche for herself, rising as one of the leading science fiction costume designers in Hollywood. She once articulated her perspective on costume design as “crafting fine art for the physique, as it entails sculpting a dimensional persona. I was instantly captivated.”