While Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman were the main hosts of Discovery’s popular science show “Mythbusters,” three other cast members played an important role in making the show a hit over its 15-season run.
Kari Byron, Tori Belleci, and Grant Imahara helped with building experiments and explaining them on camera. They created a friendly atmosphere that worked well alongside the tension between Adam and Jamie.
Imahara had a background in robotics and film production, having worked on movies like “Terminator,” “Star Wars,” and “Jurassic Park.” After “Mythbusters,” Imahara, Byron, and Belleci teamed up again for a Netflix science show called “The White Rabbit Project,” which aired its only season in 2016.
In 2020, Imahara tragically passed away after suffering a brain aneurysm. Byron shared a photo on Twitter of herself, Imahara, and Belleci with the caption, “Somedays I wish I had a time machine.” Savage also posted a heartfelt tribute to Imahara on Twitter, which said in part, “I’m at a loss.
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.”
The Tragic Fate of Grant Imahara: What Happened to the MythBusters Star?Grant Imahara expanded his extensive special effects career with multiple acting roles
A post on the Mythbusters Facebook page on July 14, 2020, paid tribute to Grant Imahara, saying, “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 was born in 1970 in Los Angeles and went to the University of Southern California, where he studied electrical engineering. He had also considered becoming a screenwriter.
His chance to work in Hollywood came when he got a job at Lucasfilm and later became the operator for R2D2 in the “Star Wars” prequels. Imahara built a championship-winning robot for the Comedy Central combat show “BattleBots,” and brought his creativity and bright smile to the “Mythbusters” build team.
Although he didn’t achieve his dream of becoming a screenwriter, Imahara played the role of Sulu in “Star Trek: Continues,” a show that aired from 2013 to 2017. He also appeared as a guest on “Star Trek Renegades” and “Drunk History,” and played a Secret Service agent in “Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No.”