One of the most iconic props in horror history is unquestionably the Lament Configuration Box from the Hellraiser franchise, which of course brings Pinhead and his Cenobites out of Hell and into our physical reality.

In the films, the puzzle box was created by Philip LeMarchand. In real life, however, it was artist Simon Sayce who designed the iconic prop.

Today we’re sad to report that Simon Sayce has passed away after an extended battle with cancer. The news comes courtesy of Sayce’s own Facebook page, which friends have been using as a memorial.

“This morning I received word that Simon​ had passed. Over the past two years I had become friends with Simon Sayce getting to know him, trading bad jokes and off color humor and talking shop on projects we were both working on,” wrote friend Eric Gross. “Sadly his health started to go quickly and he spent less and less time on FaceBook or responding to texts and e-mails. When Simon went quiet, that’s when I knew the mind was willing but the body had just had enough.”

“Simon Sayce was a teacher, a friend and an artist above all else,” Gross added.

In addition to designing the puzzle box, Sayce also created David Cronenberg’s mask for Nightbreed, as well as the character Peloquin for the same film. He worked on the special effects teams for a few other horror films in the late ’80s and into the early ’90s, including The Unholy, The Lair of the White Worm and I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle.

Sayce dug into the box’s creation in the doc Leviathan, which you can watch below.

Rest in Peace, sir.