Shawna Trpcic was a renowned American costume designer who worked on several popular science fiction and fantasy projects, including the Star Wars series The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka. She was also known for her collaborations with Joss Whedon on Firefly, Angel, Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog and Dollhouse. She passed away unexpectedly on October 4, 2023, at the age of 56.
Early Life and Education
Shawna Trpcic was born on October 18, 1966, in Artesia, California. She grew up with a passion for science fiction and comic books. She attended Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, where she studied fashion. She got her first break in the industry as an illustrator for the 1990 film Megaville. She then worked as a wardrobe assistant on the films Toys and Red Shoe Diaries.
Wiki / Bio
| Name | Shawna Trpcic (née Shawna Leavell) |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | October 18, 1966 |
| Birth Place | Artesia, California, U.S. |
| Death Date | October 4, 2023 |
| Death Place | Palm Desert, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Costume designer |
| Spouse | Joseph Trpcic |
| Children | Joseph Trpcic Jr. and Sarah Trpcic |
| Notable Works | Firefly, Angel, Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, Dollhouse, The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka |
| Awards | Costume Designers Guild Award, 3 Emmy nominations |
| Net Worth | $10 million USD |
| @shawna.trpcic | |
| @trpcic | |
| Wikipedia | @Shawna_Trpcic |
| Homepage | @wikicelebs.com |
Career and Achievements
Trpcic became a costume designer for Joss Whedon’s Firefly in 2002. She created the distinctive outfits for the crew of the Serenity spaceship, blending Western and Asian influences. She also designed the costumes for Whedon’s Angel, a spin-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Shawna continued to work with Whedon on his web series Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog and his TV show Dollhouse. She also designed the costumes for Marti Noxon’s Point Pleasant and Jane Espenson’s Husbands.
Trpcic also worked on several other TV shows and films, such as The Ballad of John St. George, Frankenstein’s Monster’s Monster, Frankenstein, Carry Tiger To Mountain, Revival, Witches of East End, The Cabin in the Woods, This Is the End, K-Ville and Torchwood: Miracle Day.
In 2019, Shawna Trpcic joined Lucasfilm as the costume designer for the second season of The Mandalorian. She created the iconic look of the titular bounty hunter and his allies and enemies in the Star Wars universe. She also worked on The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka, two spin-off series from The Mandalorian. She was praised for her meticulous research and attention to detail in capturing the spirit of the original Star Wars trilogy.
Trpcic was nominated for three Emmy Awards for her work on The Mandalorian seasons 2 and 3 and The Book of Boba Fett. She also won a Costume Designers Guild Award for her work on The Book of Boba Fett. She was currently nominated for another Emmy Award for her work on The Mandalorian season 3.
Personal Life and Death
Shawna was married to Joseph Trpcic, a Croatian-American musician and composer. They had two children: a son named Joseph Jr. and a daughter named Sarah. Trpcic was a Christian who volunteered at Juvenile Hall and taught art at a men’s maximum security state prison in Northern California.
Shawna Trpcic died suddenly of an unknown cause in Palm Desert, California, on October 4, 2023. She was 56 years old. Her death was confirmed by her agency Gersh and Lucasfilm. Her family and friends mourned her loss and celebrated her legacy.
Trivia
- Trpcic often added pink flamingos to her costumes as her signature mark. For example, she put them on the lapel of Badger (played by Mark Sheppard) in Firefly.
- She altered her own wedding dress to create the ballgown worn by Inara Serra (played by Morena Baccarin) in Firefly.
- Shawna Trpcic was invited to tour Skywalker Ranch by a fan of her work on Firefly. There she met George Lucas and started her relationship with Lucasfilm.
- Trpcic was considered a Star Wars historian by her peers. She read every making-of book she could find to better understand the techniques used in the films.
- Shawna hid Easter eggs in her costumes for The Mandalorian and its spin-offs. For example, she put a hidden message in Aurebesh (the Star Wars alphabet) on Bo-Katan’s helmet.
Summary
Shawna Trpcic was an American costume designer who worked on several popular science fiction and fantasy projects, including the Star Wars series The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka. She was also known for her collaborations with Joss Whedon on Firefly, Angel, Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, and Dollhouse. She passed away unexpectedly on October 4, 2023, at the age of 56.
