Iconic LEGO Minifigure Creator Dies At 78 From ALS
Iconic LEGO minifigure designer Jens Nygaard Knudsen, has passed away at 78 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He passed in a Danish Hospice care facility on Wednesday (Feb. 19).
While he worked at the Danish toy brick maker from 1968 to 2000, Knudsen was famously known for creating the classic childhood-favorite and racially ambiguous minifigure, aka “LEGO Man,” with interchangeable legs and torsos.
RELATED: HU Exclusive: Giving You The Keys To “Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” Premiere
As his widow, Marianne Nygaard Knudsen shares, “He was a man of ideas. The figure was created so that there would be life in houses. At the time LEGO’s houses were empty, but then he drew this man,” his former colleague, Niels Milan Pedersen reflected, “His imagination was so fantastic. If we had a brainstorm it was more like a brain hurricane, because he had so many ideas.”
Also, LEGO Group Chief Marketing Officer Julia Goldin stated, “He was a true visionary whose ideas brought joy and inspiration to millions of builders around the world and we thank him for helping to create some of our most loved play themes. [He] made an impact few can match.”
RELATED: Child Finds $40,000 Worth Of Meth Inside Box Of Legos
Continued…
In addition, Matthew Ashton, Vice President of Design at LEGO, tweeted, “While I never met Jens, what he created played such a huge part of my childhood as well as for many other millions of kids around the world. Without him, I would have never been inspired to do the things I do today, without him I wouldn’t even have my job today! What an amazing man, and what an incredible legacy he leaves behind.”
Additionally, ahead of its first release in 1978, Knudsen began developing the legendary minifigure in the 1970s. He is also responsible for creating the classic LEGO themes, like LEGOLand, and other buildable sets like LEGO Castle, LEGO Space and Pirates.
We're very sad to hear that Jens Nygaard Knudsen, the creator of the LEGO Minifigure, has passed away. Thank you Jens, for your ideas, imagination, and inspiring generations of builders ❤️ pic.twitter.com/7YixYvHtRW
— LEGO (@LEGO_Group) February 24, 2020
Extremely sad news : Jens Nygaard Knudsen (the orginal creator of the #LEGO Minifigure) passed away this week! While I never met Jens, what he created played such a huge part of my childhood as well as for many other millions of kids around the world. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/xAUJUUpBg3
— Matthew Ashton (@matthew__ashton) February 21, 2020