John Stears (25 August 1934 - 28 June 1999) was a British two-time Academy Award winning special effects expert. Affectionately known as 'The Real Q' he created James Bond's lethal Aston Martin DB5, Luke Skywalker's Landspeeder, the Jedi Knights' lightsabers, the endearing robots R2-D2 and C-3PO as well as a host of other movie gadgets and special effects.
Special Effects, Visual Effects, Assistant Director
Star Sign
Virgo
#
Fact
1
Had a passion for building and flying model aircraft.
2
Served as a dispatch rider during his national service.
3
Studied at Harrow College of Art and Southall Technical School, prior to taking up a position as a draughtsman with the Air Ministry.
4
Creator of the lightsaber, Luke Skywalker's land speeder, the Death Star, as well as robots C3PO and R2-D2 for "Star Wars".
5
Creator of James Bond's Aston Martin DB 5, complete with bullet-proof windows, revolving license plates and forward-firing machine guns.
6
John attended Swakelys Secondary Modern school at Ickenham, Middlesex, England from 1945-1949 and was a keen art student.
7
Worked at Shawcraft (Models) Ltd Iver, Bucks, England from 1955.
8
Worked on the special effects for Reach for the Sky (The Badar story) produced at J Arthur Rank's Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Bucks and it was from this contact that John joined the Studio as a special effects technician.
He claimed that he was not aware that his work on "Thunderball" (1965) had earned him an Academy Award nomination. He first learned about it when a friend in the United States informed him that he had won the Oscar.
11
Stears' crew on many of his 007 projects comprised: Frank George (engineer & effects), Bert Luxford (engineer), James Snow (engineer & floor effects), Joe Fitt (prop man & effects), etc.
His hobbies were vintage bikes and giant scale model making (airplanes).
14
He and his wife started and owned the world renowned "Livny Borzoi Kennels" in England, UK. They produced many Champion dogs world wide.
15
John died on April 28th 1999 (on his wife's birthday) of a sudden and immence brain hemorrhage.
16
He has two daughters: Janet Stears - started as Special Effects Technician and progressed to Production Coordinator, Writer and Producer. Jacqueline Stears - started as Scenic Artist and now works with Disney in the Immagineering Department.
Special Effects
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Mask of Zorro
1998
special effects coordinator
Babylon 5
1994
TV Series special effects coordinator - 1 episode
Babylon 5: The Gathering
1993
TV Movie special effects coordinator
Navy Seals
1990
special effects
Haunted Honeymoon
1986
special effects consultant
Miracles
1986
special effects supervisor
F/X
1986
special effects consultant
The Bounty
1984
special effects supervisor
Sahara
1983
special effects supervisor
Turkey Shoot
1982
special effects
Outland
1981
special effects
Hopscotch
1980
special effects
The Awakening
1980
special effects
The Martian Chronicles
1980
TV Mini-Series special effects supervisor - 3 episodes
The Last Remake of Beau Geste
1977
special effects supervisor
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
1977
special production & mechanical effects supervisor
Sky Riders
1976
special effects
That Lucky Touch
1975
special effects supervisor
The Man with the Golden Gun
1974
special effects
Ghost in the Noonday Sun
1973
special effects
O Lucky Man!
1973
special effects
Theatre of Blood
1973
special effects
The Pied Piper
1972
special effects
Sitting Target
1972
special effects
Fiddler on the Roof
1971
special effects - uncredited
Catch Me a Spy
1971
special effects
Toomorrow
1970
special effects
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
1969
special effects
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
1968
special effects
You Only Live Twice
1967
special effects / special effects supervisor - uncredited
Court Martial
1965
TV Series special effects supervisor
Thunderball
1965
special effects
Goldfinger
1964
special effects
From Russia with Love
1963
special effects
Call Me Bwana
1963
special effects
Visual Effects
Title
Year
Status
Character
Megaforce
1982
visual effects: Introvision
The Thief of Baghdad
1978
TV Movie magic carpet
One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing
1975
special photographic effects
Sink the Bismarck!
1960
model ships - uncredited
The One That Got Away
1957
special processes - uncredited
Reach for the Sky
1956
model aircraft - uncredited
Assistant Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Martian Chronicles
1980
TV Mini-Series second unit director - 3 episodes
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Ken Adam: Designing Bond
2000
Video documentary short
Himself
Terence Young: Bond Vivant
2000
Video documentary short
Himself
Inside 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'
2000
Video documentary short
Himself
Behind the Scenes with 'Thunderball'
1995
Video documentary
Himself
Behind the Scenes with 'Goldfinger'
1995
Video documentary short
Himself
30 Years of James Bond
1992
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The 50th Annual Academy Awards
1978
TV Special
Himself - Winner: Best Visual Effects
Harry Saltzman: Showman
2000
Video documentary short
Himself
Inside 'From Russia with Love'
2000
Video documentary short
Himself
Inside 'The Man with the Golden Gun'
2000
Video documentary short
Himself
Inside Q's Lab
2000
Video documentary short
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Men Behind the Mayhem: The Special Effects of James Bond
2000
Video documentary short
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1978
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Effects, Visual Effects
Star Wars (1977)
1978
Saturn Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Best Special Effects
Star Wars (1977)
1966
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Effects, Special Visual Effects
Thunderball (1965)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1982
Saturn Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Best Special Effects
Outland (1981)
Known for movies
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) as Special Effects
$1.1 Million
