His projects over the course of his long career were wide-ranging. His visual effects work for Jurassic Park, Terminator 2, and Aliens won him Oscars, and he earned nominations for his contributions to a slew of other films. His special effects for 1987's Predator still hold up remarkably well, and unlike the big-budget films of more recent times, the effects don't overwhelm. Rather than demanding attention and drawing focus away from other elements of the film, they served as a symbiotic and integral part of the whole package. Still, he was something of a household name. Even casual moviegoers know his work by name; how many other special effects gurus have that claim to fame?

So, farewell, Mr. Winston. Thanks for helping us skeptics buy Tom Cruise as one of the blood-sucking undead in the literal sense, for helping many a teenage boy score second base while horrifically fertile aliens scared the crap out of his date, and for generally increasing the profit margins for night-light manufacturers the world over. Much appreciated. You will be remembered.

Winston's family requests that instead of sending flowers, fellow mourners make donations to the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research, Free Arts for Abused Children and UNICEF.