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Mark Boudreaux was a longtime toy designer for Kenner and Hasbro, Inc., who designed the original “Star Wars” Millennium Falcon playset and all that followed, along with many other toys in the “Star Wars,” “Batman,” and “Jurassic Park” lines.
Mark Boudreaux’s legacy
Launched in the 1970s, Kenner’s line of “Star Wars” action figures and playsets reshaped the landscape for toys – and for children – for generations to come. As the designer of the original Millennium Falcon playset, among many others, Boudreaux was there from the beginning. In fact, Boudreaux created every Millennium Falcon design up through the 2015 version released for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
Boudreaux began with Kenner in 1978, and when Hasbro bought the company and sold its Cincinnati offices, he followed Hasbro to Rhode Island to continue his design work. Over the decades, he would leave his mark on dozens of toys and generations of kids. Jabba the Hutt’s sail barge was a Boudreaux design, for example. His face was even used as the model for several “Star Wars” action figures, including the Endor rebel soldier figure from “Return of the Jedi.”
Though he is best known for his “Star Wars” toys, Boudreaux also designed toys for “Batman,” “Jurassic Park,” “Ghostbusters,” and many others. He retired in 2020 after rising to senior principal designer at Hasbro, returning to his home state of Ohio.
Notable quote
“It’s more than just a job.”—Bloomberg originals
Tributes to Mark Boudreaux
Full obituary: Cincinnati Inquirer