Drew Struzan, iconic film poster artist, dies at 78

Drew Struzan, the artist whose hand-illustrated posters became synonymous with several of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, has died. He was 78. An Instagram post announcing his death said he passed away on October 13 and conveyed the family’s gratitude for the public’s appreciation of his work.

The post did not specify a cause of death. Earlier this year his wife, Dylan Struzan, disclosed that he had been battling Alzheimer’s disease and described ongoing efforts to slow its progression. Family statements and public tributes have since acknowledged his long illness while focusing on his artistic legacy.

Struzan began his professional career designing album covers in the 1960s and 1970s for artists including the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees, Earth, Wind & Fire, Liberace, and Black Sabbath. He moved into film poster illustration in the 1970s, with a pivotal commission to create the poster for the 1978 re-release of Star Wars that helped bring him wider attention. Over a career spanning decades he produced more than 150 film posters and continued to be sought after for major releases, creating images for films such as E.T., Blade Runner, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones and the...