John Barry was a British production designer. Started his career in the
art department of the movie Cleopatra (1963). He is known chiefly for
his imaginative design work on "Star Wars" and "Superman: The Movie".
Barry got the opportunity to direct the sci-fi movie "Saturn 3" but was
replaced during filming. However, he returned to the Star Wars universe
on "The Empire Strikes Back" as a second unit director. On May 31st
1979, (two weeks into filming) he collapsed on-set and was hospitalized
as his temperature rose to 104 degrees. He died at 2am on June 1st, a
victim of meningitis.
