Drew Struzan, Legendary Movie Poster Artist Behind “Star Wars” and “Back to the Future,” Dies at 78
Drew Struzan, the legendary illustrator whose work defined the look of beloved films like Star Wars, Back to the Future, and Indiana Jones, has passed away at 78. His longtime collaborator Greg Aronowitz shared the news on Struzan’s Instagram, noting the artist “moved on from this world” on October 13. No cause of death was given.
“Drew made event art,” Steven Spielberg said in tribute, recalling how Struzan’s posters transformed movies into unforgettable experiences. Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro added, “The world lost a genial man, a genius communicator, and supreme artist. I lost a friend – beloved Drew.”
Born in Oregon City, Oregon, in 1947, Struzan studied at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena before working for Pacific Eye & Ear, where he designed album covers for artists like The Beach Boys and Earth, Wind & Fire.
His big break came in 1978 when he co-created the re-release poster for Star Wars, painting the film’s human characters in his now-iconic photorealistic style. From there, he became synonymous with cinematic art, illustrating posters for classics such as Blade Runner, The Goonies, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Though he retired in 2008, Struzan occasionally returned for special projects, including Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015 and The Dark Tower in 2017. He was also the subject of the 2013 documentary Drew: The Man Behind the Poster, featuring interviews with George Lucas, Harrison Ford, and Spielberg.
Reflecting on his craft in 2021, Struzan said, “Art is more than telling the story. I’m looking to give a person a feeling about something they could hope for.”
