Grant Imahara, legendary Asian American electrical engineer, roboticist, and television host for the popular TV show MythBusters as well as Netflix’s White Rabbit Project, died on July 13th, 2020 from a brain aneurysm at age 49. Born in October 1970 to a Japanese family, Imahara pursued a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California. He had a strong interest in screenwriting, and when presented with the opportunity to work at LucasFilms THX lab, he jumped at the opportunity. Imahara put his passions for screenwriting and electrical engineering into many of his projects when working for major film studios, some of his most notable ones in the TV show MythBusters. In addition to his contributions to MythBusters and the White Rabbit Project, he was also essential in the creation and operation of R2D2 in the Star Wars prequels. Imahara also designed the winning robot in the hit TV show BattleBots.
Grant Imahara was an inspiring role model for young people working behind the scenes. In an interview in 2008, Imahara said, "I liked the challenge of designing and building things, figuring out how something works and how to make it better or apply it in a different way. When I was a kid, I never wanted to be James Bond. I wanted to be Q, because he was the guy who made all the gadgets." Imahara's love for not being the star but for being behind the scenes and making things work was what made him so loved and so inspiring. His talent in the world of electrical engineering and robotics is one of which few can match. His accomplishments encouraged Asian Americans to enter the field of technology and engineering while also proving that Asians could appear in Hollywood shows and be credited for their works. His legacy has influenced a new generation of Asian American engineers and will continue to inspire the next generations to come.