American inventor and audio pioneer Ray Dolby (read here other news about Ray Dolby) known for Dolby surround sound and Dolby Digital stereo has died at the age of 80 at his home in San Francisco.

Dolby, who founded Dolby Laboratories, was diagnosed with acute leukemia earlier this year. He founded the Dolby company in 1965 and it became a leader in audio technology. Dolby was instrumental in such things as noise reduction and surround sound technology and also created a number of technologies which are very often still used in music, movies, and the entertainment industries.

The work Dolby did helped to reduce the hissing sound in cassette recordings and he also did work on “Star Wars”.

The inventor had 50 U.S. patents and he also claimed a number of awards for his work, including several Emmys, two Oscars and a Grammy.

Dolby was awarded the National Medal of Technology from President Clinton and he was also inducted into the US’s National Inventors Hall of Fame and the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineers.

Last year the theatre which stages the annual Academy Awards was renamed the Dolby Theatre. The Ray Dolby Ballroom was also named in his honor.

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