Frank O. Gehry, a world-renowned architect known for his innovative and sculptural buildings, has died at the age of 96 at his home in Santa Monica, California, after a brief respiratory illness. Gehry gained international fame with the design of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain, completed in 1997, which revitalized the city and established his reputation as a leading figure in contemporary architecture. His signature style, characterized by undulating metal facades and organic forms, was exemplified in other major works such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles (2003), the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris (2014), and the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle (2000). Born in Toronto and educated at USC and Harvard, Gehry's career was launched by his unconventional Santa Monica home renovation in 1978, which showcased his use of utilitarian materials. A recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1989 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, Gehry was known for his bold, expressive designs and his rejection of traditional architectural styles. His work often drew inspiration from diverse sources, including Japanese temples, ice hockey, and guitars, and he was celebrated for pushing the boundaries of architectural possibility. Gehry’s public persona was candid and sometimes cantankerous, and he was outspoken against mainstream architectural trends. His legacy includes some of the most iconic and sculptural buildings of the modern era, making him one of the most influential architects of his time.