RIP Grant Imahara: 'Myth Busters' host, animatronics whiz

RIP Grant Imahara

AASAM NEWS

Popular Myth Busters and White Rabbit Project host Grant Imahara has died at the age of 49. His death was attributed to a brain aneurysm.

“We are heartbroken to hear this sad news about Grant. He was an important part of our Discovery family and a really wonderful man. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family,” the Discovery Channel said in a statement.

According to the AV Club, Imahara studied electrical engineering at the University of Southern California. With Industrial Light and Magic based in the San Francisco Bay Area, he worked on the special effects of such movies as the Matrix sequels and Galaxy Quest.

Much of Imahara's animatronics genius work was behind the scenes. Among his creations was the next-generation of Star Wars' R2D2, and the Energizer Bunny, both of which he operated.

One of his last creations was a Baby Yoda, introduced in the series The Maladronian, that was used for touring children's hospitals. "Pleased to present my newest creation: a fully animatronic Baby Yoda," he wrote on his Facebook page in March. 

It was at George Lucas' ILM where he met Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage and would be invited to team up with co-hosts Kari Byron and Tory Belleci to join the Mybusters team beginning in season 3.

The trio would continue their association on the one-season program White Rabbit Project in which the trio dispelled history's myths.

Mythbusters Adam Savage tweeted “I’m at a loss. No words. I’ve been part of two big families with Grant Imahara over the last 22 years. Grant was a truly brilliant engineer, artist and performer, but also just such a generous, easygoing, and gentle PERSON. Working with Grant was so much fun. I’ll miss my friend.”

Views From the Edge contributed to this report.