Legendary toy designer Mark Boudreaux has become one with the Force.
Best known for his work on Star Wars, Boudreaux retired from Hasbro in 2020 following a 43-year career working on some of the most iconic toys and vehicles inspired by a galaxy far, far away.
Boudreaux joined Kenner as a University of Cincinnati co-op student in 1977, the year that George Lucas’ Star Wars first hit theaters. During his lengthy career, he designed all of the 3.75-inch scale Millennium Falcon vehicles, including the Star Wars: The Force Awakens Battle Action version for which he was honored with a 2015 TAGIE Award at the Chicago Toy and Game Fair for Excellence in Toy Design.
As senior principal product designer for Hasbro’s Star Wars team, Boudreaux’s work came full circle in 2020 when a 40-year-old toy made its live-action debut on Star Wars: The Mandalorian. Developed as an original toy that kids could use to extend the Star Wars adventure at home, the Imperial Troop Transporter never appeared in the original films and didn’t enter the Star Wars canon until it appeared in animated form on Star Wars Rebels. Following its live-action appearance on The Mandalorian on Disney+, the vehicle headed back into stores as part of the Star Wars Vintage Collection lineup.
Boudreaux also designed the gigantic Jabba’s Sail Barge, which was successfully crowdfunded through the Hasbro Pulse HasLab platform.
Last year, Boudreaux was placed on a ventilator following the effects of COVID-19.
“His work had an immeasurable impact on the Star Wars universe, the Hasbro community, and the toy industry overall. He touched so many with his design skills, mentorship, friendship, and his enduring passion and dedication to the Hasbro Star Wars community,” Hasbro said in a statement. “We are forever grateful that his legacy lives on through the fans of all ages who will continue to play with the incredible toys that he created, and the countless product designers he inspired and mentored throughout his career. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Judy and their family and friends during this difficult time.
— Hasbro statement on the passing of Mark Boudreaux
Thank you, Mark for allowing us all to be a part of this epic journey. The galaxy will not be the same without you. May the Force be with you, always.
