Shawna Trpcic was an Emmy-nominated costume designer for film and television who worked on popular science fiction shows like “Firefly,” the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” spinoff “Angel,” and “Star Wars” shows like “The Mandalorian” and “Ahsoka.”
- Died: October 4, 2023 (Who else died on October 4?)
- Details of death: Died in Palm Desert, California, at the age of 56.
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Shawna Trpcic’s legacy
Born in Artesia, California, Shawna Trpcic was set on a career as a truck driver until a high school teacher encouraged her to pursue art. She studied fashion at Otis College of Art and Design, and in 1990 earned her first film credits for the movies “Megaville” and “Mom.” She worked on a variety of small, often direct-to-video movies for several years before landing her first major credit as costume designer on the hit action TV show “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.”
Trpcic’s ability to create eye-catching but grounded costumes in fantastic settings lead her to design roles on the space cowboy science fiction show “Firefly” and the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” spinoff “Angel.” She also worked on “Dollhouse,” the “Doctor Who” spinoff “Torchwood: Miracle Day,” and films like “The Cabin in the Woods.” She even used her own wedding dress to create a gown for Morena Baccarin’s character, Inara, in “Firefly.”
In 2020, Trpcic joined one of the most prominent pop culture and entertainment franchises when she became part of the team at Lucasfilm to work on “Star Wars” television shows. She was the lead costume designer on the hit show “The Mandalorian” and worked on “The Book of Boba Fett”; her final credits were on “Ahsoka.” Trpcic’s talents earned her three Emmy nominations, as well as a Costume Designers Guild Award.
Notable quote
“We do need that escape. It’s the family time. It’s how we can talk about something other than what we’re scared of and our pressures”—from a 2020 interview with Designing Hollywood
Tributes to Shawna Trpcic
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
