Famed science fiction and fantasy illustrator Frank Kelly Freas died early today.

From his biography:

Recognized as the most prolific and popular Science Fiction artist worldwide, FRANK KELLY FREAS has illustrated stories by some of Science Fiction’s greatest writers: Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, A. E. Van Vogt, Poul Anderson, and Frederik Pohl, to name a few. Nominated an unprecedented twenty times, Freas was the first to receive ten Hugo Awards (World Science Fiction “Oscars”) for achievement in the field as Best Professional Artist.

He has been active in the Science Fiction field since 1950. In the course of his remarkable career, his endeavors have covered many areas including MAD Magazine covers from 1955 to 1962. An official NASA mission artist, his space posters hang in the Smithsonian. He was commissioned by the Skylab I astronauts to design their crew patch.

You can find his art on record and CD albums (for instance his cover for Queen’s first two million sale: News of the World, or on the cover of DC Comics’ 1992 STAR TREK ANNUAL. He painted beautiful women on the noses of World War II bombers, as well as portraits of five hundred saints for the Franciscans.

I had to opportunity to see Freas at past SF conventions and I’ve been a long-time admirer of his works. He will be missed by many in fandom.

Update: Freas was 82 at the time of his passing.