Grant Imahara, TV Mythbuster and beloved science personality, dies at 49

Beloved science personality Grant Imahara has died at age 49. 

An electrical engineer, Imahara captivated audiences on "Mythbusters," where he spent 10 years as part of the Discovery Channel show's cast, which included Adam Savage, Kari Byron, Jamie Hyneman, Jessi Combs, Scottie Chapman and Tory Belleci. 

"We are heartbroken to hear this sad news about Grant. He was an important part of our Discovery family and a really wonderful man," Discovery said in the statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."

While Discovery did not immediately release a cause of death, a company spokesperson said that the cause was thought to be a brain aneurysm, according to a New York Times report

Grant Imahara at the Geekie Awards in 2014. Imahara died July 13, 2020.  (Image credit: Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)

In addition to his work on "Mythbusters," Imahara — an avid science fiction fan — actually worked as one of the very few officially trained operators for the much-adored droid R2-D2 in the "Star Wars" universe. He controlled the droid's movements in "Episode I: The Phantom Menace," "Episode II: Attack of the Clones" and "Episode III: Revenge of the Sith." He even made a brief appearance in the mockumentary "R2-D2: Beneath the Dome."

Imahara also engineered the Energizer Bunny's rhythmic beat and was a "fierce Battlebots competitor," according to a statement from Discovery, which confirmed Imahara's death on Monday night. 

Imahara's friends, family and "Mythbusters" co-stars have shared their thoughts and feeling on social media following Imahara's tragic death. 

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Chelsea Gohd
Senior Writer

Chelsea “Foxanne” Gohd joined Space.com in 2018 and is now a Senior Writer, writing about everything from climate change to planetary science and human spaceflight in both articles and on-camera in videos. With a degree in Public Health and biological sciences, Chelsea has written and worked for institutions including the American Museum of Natural History, Scientific American, Discover Magazine Blog, Astronomy Magazine and Live Science. When not writing, editing or filming something space-y, Chelsea "Foxanne" Gohd is writing music and performing as Foxanne, even launching a song to space in 2021 with Inspiration4. You can follow her on Twitter @chelsea_gohd and @foxannemusic.

  • Wolfshadw
    :cry:

    Always like the "second team" on Mythbusters.

    -Wolf sends
    Reply
  • Hammer
    Admin said:
    Beloved science personality Grant Imahara has died at age 49.

    Grant Imahara, TV Mythbuster and beloved science personality, dies at 49 : Read more
    How awful. RIP Grant
    Reply
  • cecilia
    How tragic.
    Reply