Donald Trumbull, 95; Won Academy Awards in Effects Photography

Donald Edmund Trumbull, 95, an Academy Award-winning designer of special effects cinematography devices, died of natural causes Monday in Graeagle, Calif.

In 1985, Trumbull received a Technical Achievement Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the design and development of the “Blue Max” high-power projector for traveling matte composite photography. In 1999, he received the Academy’s Scientific and Engineering Award for advancing the state of the art of real-time motion control, as exemplified in the Gazelle and Zebra camera dolly systems.

Early in his career, Trumbull worked as a special effects rigger on “The Wizard of Oz.”

During World War II, he worked as an engineer in the aviation industry and earned 19 patents.

He continued working in aviation until 1970, when he rejoined the film industry in collaboration with his son Douglas to develop specialized equipment and robotic arms for the drones in “Silent Running.”

In 1976, Trumbull joined the crew of Industrial Light and Magic, helping design and build the first motion-controlled cameras, booms and specialized equipment for George Lucas’ “Star Wars.”

Trumbull later became a partner and chief engineer for Apogee Productions, which provided photographic effects for numerous movies.