The inventor of the LEGO Minifigure Jens Nygaard Knudson has died at the age of 78. Knudson was responsible for the design of the LEGO figure that was introduced to the public in 1978, which has since become an iconic figure for the globally known brand. The LEGO Minifigure, also called minifigs, are known for their interchangeable circular heads, hands and square-shaped body, and have been a fan favorite since their initial release.

Knudson was a designer for the Danish toy company from 1968 to 2000, with his creativity reaching beyond the LEGO Minifigure. He also helped to create the LEGO Castle and classic LEGO Space sets. He was praised by his colleagues for his creativity and, in the wake of his death, lauded for the legacy he leaves at LEGO.

On Twitter, Matthew Ashton, Vice President of Design at LEGO, shared words of praise, thanking Knudson for inspiring him and leaving behind an “incredible legacy.” Ashton shared in a tweet: “While I never met Jens, what he created played such a huge part of my childhood as well as for many other millions of kids around the world.” LEGO also shared a tweet honoring Knudson, see it and Ashton’s below.

LEGO’s Chief Marketing Advisor said in a statement to CNN, “Jens spent 32 years with the LEGO Group and made an impact few can match. He was a true visionary whose ideas brought joy and inspiration to millions of builders around the world and we thank him for helping to create some of our most loved play themes…”

Knudsen suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and passed away on Feb. 19 in Denmark from complications with the disease. He is survived by his wife, Marianne Nygaard Knudsen. ALS is a disease that impacts nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

LEGO Minifigures come in a wide variety of designs and characters including those from films and television series, serving as collector’s items amongst the fan community. With the release of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace in 1999, LEGO introduced its first licensed theme Star Wars set, paving the way for a future of licensed LEGO play themes that would not only include figures but also movies, video games, books and more. Current playsets today include The Avengers, Stranger Things, Harry Potter and many more. Knudson’s vision and ideas helped create the massive success that LEGO became and is thus leaving behind a larger legacy than may have been anticipated during the initial creation of the minifigure.

According to the company’s website, LEGO was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen and has since become one of the largest toy manufacturers across the globe.

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Source: CNN Business