Martin Becker, 49; Co-Owned Innovative Special-Effects Company

Martin Becker, 49, a special-effects coordinator and co-owner of Reel Efx, an innovative North Hollywood company, died of pancreatic cancer Aug. 13 at his home in Glendale.

Reel Efx, which Becker co-owned with Jim Gill, specializes in creating mechanical effects for national commercial campaigns.

The company, begun in Becker’s garage 20 years ago, was a pioneer in “frozen moment” multi-camera technology. It created a photographable man-made tornado that has been used in TV shows and commercials and is used on the “Twister” attraction at Universal Studios Florida. The company also created a man-made fire tornado (used by magician David Copperfield), as well as a high-speed wind machine and industry-standard diffusion hazers.

A Glendale native, Becker launched his film career as a carpenter at Universal Studios. Among his special-effects film credits are “Star Trek: The Wrath of Kahn” (1982), “Bachelor Party” (1984), “How to Make an American Quilt” (1995) and four of the “Friday the 13th” films.

Becker was membership chairman for the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum and co-owner, with Gill, of Coles Power Models, a company that manufactures and sells scale engines and hardware.