Grant Imahara Biography
Grant Masaru Imahara was an electrical engineer, roboticist, and host for television in America. He was born on October 23, 1970. He was best known for his work on the MythBusters television series, where he designed and constructed several robots needed for the show, and specialized in the operation of the various computers and electronics used to test myths.
Imahara appeared in the White Rabbit Project, a Netflix series released on 9 December 2016.
Grant Imahara Age
Imahara was 49 years old.
Grant Imahara Family & Early Life
Imahara was born in Los Angeles, California, on 23 October 1970, to a Japanese-American family. Imahara holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California. He strongly considered switching majors for a period, with the intention of becoming a screenwriter.
After assisting Tomlinson Holman, a professor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, he opted to stay on the engineering track. As revealed on the White Rabbit Project, Imahara was also a passionate LARPer.
Grant Imahara Career
Imahara was employed after graduation as an engineer for the THX division of Lucasfilm; he then moved to the visual effects division of the company, Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), where he worked for nine years. Although at ILM, he has been involved in films such as The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Galaxy Quest, AI: Artificial Intelligence, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Van Helsing, and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Imahara is credited as a model builder in many of the feature films.
He is particularly known for his role in upgrading the aging R2-D2 robots for the prequel trilogy of Star Wars. He makes a guest appearance as an official Artoo Technician in the mockumentary R2-D2: Beneath the Dome.
Grant Imahara MythBusters
Imahara joined MythBusters at the invitation of friend and occasional employer Jamie Hyneman and former colleague of ILM Linda Wolkovitch, who was MythBusters’ associate producer. He joined the Build Team as the third member along with Kari Byron and Tory Belleci, replacing Scottie Chapman, the former MythBusters welder.
The friends also jokingly refer to him as the Build Team’s “geek.” He also rendered the robots needed for the series and otherwise specialized in running the computers and electronics for the myths. After the 2014 season, Imahara, along with Byron and Belleci left the show.
Grant Imahara Cause Of Death
As first mentioned by The Hollywood Reporter, Grant Imahara, a host of Discovery’s Mythbusters and Netflix’s White Rabbit Rose, died Monday, July 13, 2020. He was 49 years old.
A Discovery representative said in a statement,
“We are heartbroken to hear this sad news about Grant. He was an important part of our Discovery family and a really wonderful man. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”
Imahara has died of a brain aneurysm according to SF Gate. Recent fellow Mythbusters host Kari Byron tweeted Monday, “Somedays I wish I had a time machine. @ToryBelleci @grantimahara.”
Somedays I wish I had a time machine. @ToryBelleci @grantimahara pic.twitter.com/o9FRE2l16W
— Kari Byron (@KariByron) July 13, 2020
After the news of the death of Imahara former host of Mythbuster Adam Savage tweeted
I’m at a loss. No words. I’ve been part of two big families with Grant Imahara over the last 22 years. Grant was a truly brilliant engineer, artist and performer, but also just such a generous, easygoing, and gentle PERSON. Working with Grant was so much fun. I’ll miss my friend.
I’m at a loss. No words. I’ve been part of two big families with Grant Imahara over the last 22 years. Grant was a truly brilliant engineer, artist and performer, but also just such a generous, easygoing, and gentle PERSON. Working with Grant was so much fun. I’ll miss my friend.
— Adam Savage (@donttrythis) July 14, 2020
Grant Imahara Wife/Girlfriend
Headed to Hawaii with @Jennernugen for @ComicConHNL. Also, our fifth anniversary! #geeklove pic.twitter.com/tJNEQMfNHY
— Grant Imahara (@grantimahara) July 27, 2016
Back in 2016 Imahara put the issue up to his longstanding Jennifer Newman. While visiting Clifton’s Cafeteria in downtown Los Angeles, Imahara approached Newman with a 1.56-carat antique ring.
The couple never officially declared their split, in spite of their public engagement. Newman’s last post on his Instagram account was in 2016. Imahara’s last appearance on Newman’s Instagram page was at New Year’s Eve 2016. While no wedding pictures have ever surfaced, on social media the two are still following one another.
I haven’t found the words. I don’t know if I’ll be able to. I lost a part of my heart and soul today.
He was so generous and kind, so endlessly sweet and so loved by his incredible friends. I feel so lucky to have known him, to have loved & been loved by him.
I love you, honey. pic.twitter.com/d7secP1Ols— Jenny N (@Jennernugen) July 14, 2020