Remembering Beyond Production Designer Thomas E. Sanders, 1953-2017

[Vic 17]

StarTrek.com is saddened to report the passing of two-time Oscar-nominated production designer Thomas E. Sanders, who died on July 6. Sanders, whose last project was Star Trek Beyond, succumbed to cancer at the age of 63.  

Sanders was born in San Pedro, California, and kicked off his career as a furniture designer/builder before being introduced to the film industry via a job at a set construction company, according to the bio on his official site. Seizing the opportunity, he opened his own set company a year later. He quickly sold this company to become Tony Scott’s art director on Revenge and Days of Thunder. Then, while working as the supervising art director on Steven Spielberg’s Hook, he attracted the attention of Francis Ford Coppola, who then hired him on Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Among his 18 credits as a production designer were Braveheart, Saving Private Ryan, Mission: Impossible II, Apocalypto, Secretariat and Crimson Peak. He also directed an episode of Tales from the Crypt. He earned his Oscar nominations for Bram Stoker's Dracula and Saving Private Ryan. 

Sanders leaves behind his wife, Mariana, and their five children, as well as one sister and seven grandchildren. According to Deadline, a celebration of life memorial will be held on July 22 at the Paso Robles Inn on 1103 Spring Street from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please join StarTrek.com in offering our condolences to Sanders' family, friends and colleagues.

View the full article