Stan Winston; visual-effects ace brought movie creatures to life

In an undated photo, Stan Winston is shown working on a dinosaur for the film "Jurassic Park." (Stan Winston Studio/Associated Press/file)

LOS ANGELES - Stan Winston, the Oscar-winning special-effects maestro responsible for bringing the dinosaurs of "Jurrasic Park" and other iconic movie creatures to life, has died. He was 62.

Mr. Winston died at his home in Malibu Sunday evening after a seven-year struggle with multiple myeloma, according to a representative from Stan Winston Studio.

Working with such directors as Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, and Tim Burton in a career spanning over four decades, Mr. Winston created some of the most memorable visual effects in cinematic history. He helped bring the dinosaurs from "Jurassic Park," the extraterrestrials from "Aliens," the robots from "Terminator," and even "Edward Scissorhands" to the big screen.

"The entertainment industry has lost a genius, and I lost one of my best friends," Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said. "Stan's work and four Oscars speak for themselves and will live on forever. What will live forever in my heart is the way that Stan loved everyone and treated each of his friends like they were family."

Mr. Winston won visual effects Oscars for 1986's "Aliens," 1992's "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," and 1993's "Jurassic Park." He also won a makeup Oscar for 1992's "Batman Returns."

Mr. Winston was nominated for his work on "Heartbeeps," "Predator," "Edward Scissorhands," "Batman Returns," "The Lost World: Jurassic Park," and "A.I." He last worked with director Jon Favreau on "Iron Man."

Mr. Winston's most recent projects included "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins," "G.I. Joe," "Shutter Island," and Cameron's "Avatar."

"He ran at full throttle, in both work and play, and was a man of kindness, wisdom, and great humor," Cameron said in an e-mail. "He was a kid that never grew up, whose dreams were writ large on the screens of the world. I am proud to have been his friend, and I will miss him very deeply."

As a child growing up in Virginia, Mr. Winston enjoyed drawing, puppetry, and classic horror films. After graduating from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville in 1968, he moved to Southern California to become an actor but instead worked behind the scenes and completed a three-year makeup apprenticeship program at Walt Disney Studios.

Mr. Winston leaves his wife, Karen; a son; daughter; brother; and four grandchildren.