David M. Jones cause of death
Jones had a nearly 30-year career as a visual effects artist.
He was born in Sacramento, California, but he spent his boyhood on Air Force bases as far afield as Anchorage, Alaska, and Freeburg, Illinois, where he vividly remembered buying his first model airplane kit in first grade.
He later graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a bachelor’s degree in industrial design.
He began his career in the film industry as a model maker after graduating, was promoted to a model shop supervisor, and eventually ended up as a visual effects supervisor.
During most of his career, David was employed by ILM, Universal Hartland, and Boss Film Studios.
“Space Academy” (1977), “Star Wars” (1977), “Close Encounters” (1977), “Buck Rogers” (1979), “Battlestar Galactica” (1979), and “Air Force One” (1979) are examples of his contributions to the field of visual effects (1997). Jones also served as an effects art director on the 1992 film “Alien3.”
Jones worked on commercials as well as movies, notably Budweiser’s Bud Bowl Super Bowl commercials in 1989 and 1990. At Disney World’s Epcot Center, he also contributed to the theme park ride Choose Your Tomorrow for Horizons.
Jones worked as an artist, illustrator, supervisor, tinker, innovator, and model maker in addition to visual effects.
Jones is survived by his son, Hunter, and his ex-wife, Janice Gerson-Jones.
How did David M. Jones die?
On April 8, David M. Jones, well known for his work as a visual effects supervisor on “Star Wars,” died at his home in Winnetka, California, of cancer-related complications. He was 74 years old at the time.
Janice Gerson-Jones, Jones’ ex-wife and close friend, confirmed his death.
