Drew Struzan, Iconic Poster Artist for ‘Star Wars‘ and ‘Indiana Jones,’ Dies at 78
Drew Struzan, the celebrated artist whose distinctive painted film posters defined a generation of blockbuster movies, has died, his official Instagram account announced October 14th. he was 78 years old. Struzan’s work graced the one-sheets for cultural touchstones including Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Blade Runner, and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, shaping how audiences perceived these films before they even entered the theater.
Struzan began his career designing album covers for artists like the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees, and Alice Cooper, whose Welcome too My Nightmare cover was lauded by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest of all time. He transitioned to film posters in the 1970s, initially working on B-movies before gaining prominence with a secondary poster for the 1977 re-release of Star Wars.
By the 1980s, Struzan was one of the most in-demand designers in the industry, completing around ten posters annually. He collaborated extensively with Steven Spielberg, creating the iconic imagery for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Hook. His portfolio also included posters for Blade Runner, Big Trouble in Little China, Coming to America, First blood, Hellboy, and the American poster for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
“I didn’t want to do that [tell the whole story in a poster],” Struzan said in a 2021 interview with Slashfilm. “I felt that art was more than just telling the story. Actually, telling the story in a poster is wrong for a movie. I wasn’t looking to tell a story.I’m looking to give a person a feeling about something they could hope for.”
Earlier this year, Struzan’s wife announced he was battling Alzheimer’s disease in a Facebook post, stating he was “fighting for his life” and no longer able to paint or sign artwork.
Tributes have poured in from across the industry, with DC Comics chief Jim Lee calling Struzan “a giant among giants,” adding, “His work captured the humanity, power and emotion of his subjects in ways not seen since. Thank you for bringing to life all the tentpole moments of my childhood and beyond.”
