Drew Struzan, poster artist for “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones”, dies

Drew Struzan, the artist who created some of the most iconic posters for films including “Star Wars,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Blade Runner” and “Back to the Future,” has died. He was 78 years old.

Struzan died Monday, according to Tuesday mail Through his official Instagram account. Dylan Struzan It was revealed in March Her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease several years ago.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that Drew Struzan has departed this world as of yesterday, October 13,” the statement read. “I feel it is important for you all to know how many times he expressed his happiness at knowing how much you appreciated his art.”

Struzan’s work has been a favorite of filmmakers including George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Frank Darabont, and Guillermo del Toro. In addition to posters for the “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” series, Struzan created posters for “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” (1982), “The Goonies” (1985), “An American Tail” (1986), and “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994). “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (2001) and “Hellboy” (2004). “Pan’s Labyrinth” (2006), “How to Train Your Dragon” animated films and more.

“A giant among giants,” artist and DC Comics president Jim Lee wrote in a comment on the post announcing Struzan’s death. “His work captured the humanity, strength and emotion of his subjects in ways not seen since. Thank you for reliving all the supportive moments of my childhood and beyond.”

“Drew created an artistic event,” Spielberg said in a statement. Delivery time. “His posters have turned many of our films into destinations…and memories of those films and the age in which we watched them always come back with just a glance at his distinctive photorealism. With his innovative style, no one painted like Drew.”

Struzan was born in Oregon City, Oregon, in 1947, and moved to Los Angeles to attend the Art Center College of Design. He began his career designing album covers for artists including the Beach Boys, Bee Gees, Roy Orbison, Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper before a movie studio approached him to try his hand at movie posters. His first appearance was in George Segal’s 1975 comedy film Blackbird.

Struzan’s big break came when he was hired to do the re-release poster for a certain 1977 Space Western.

“Drew was an artist of the highest caliber,” Lucas said. Greetings from Lucasfilm To Struzan. “His illustrations captured the excitement, tone and spirit of each of my films represented by his artwork. His creativity, through a single photographic image, opened up a world full of life in vivid color…even at a glance. I have been fortunate to have worked with him again and again.”

The admiration was mutual.

“George [Lucas] “He wanted to be a painter,” Struzan said in a 2014 interview with The Times. “He loves paintings. He wants to use illustrations because they reach the heart, whereas photographs don’t do it for him. …I’ve worked with Steven Spielberg since E.T., and we’re the same age…and we got along the whole time. That’s part of it, being in the right place at the right time.”

The artist explained that creating the posters is a collaborative effort. For films including “Hook” (1991), Struzan read the script, visited the set and worked on the concept with Spielberg. For “Hellboy,” del Toro visited Struzan at his studio to discuss ideas.

“The world has lost a kind man, a brilliant communicator, and a sublime artist,” del Toro wrote in his tribute to Struzan. Bluesky. “I lost a friend”

Over the course of his career, Struzan collected accolades including the Saturn Award and the Inkbot Award. He is also inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame and was the subject of the 2013 documentary “Drew: The Man Behind the Poster.”

“You should be able to watch a film and understand what it’s about without hearing a word they say, because it’s a visual medium,” Struzan said in a 2017 interview with the documentary’s director. Eric Sharkey on HuffPost. “[Directors] Like Darabont, del Toro, Spielberg, Lucas… artists. They try to show beauty, truth and goodness. Because they make these kinds of films, they stay in our hearts and minds. “They tell us the best things about us.”