Drew Struzan, artist who created iconic movie posters for Spielberg, Lucas and Del Toro, dies at 78

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Drew Struzan, the acclaimed artist behind iconic movie posters for films like “Star Wars,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Blade Runner,” and “Back to the Future,” has passed away at the age of 78.

Drew Struzan passed away on Monday, his family announced on Instagram on Tuesday. His wife, Dylan Struzan, shared that he had been living with Alzheimer’s disease for several years.

I’m deeply saddened to share that Drew Struzan passed away yesterday, October 13th. He often told me how happy he was knowing that so many of you loved his artwork, and I wanted to make sure you all knew that brought him great joy.

Drew Struzan was a highly sought-after artist, beloved by directors like George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Frank Darabont, and Guillermo del Toro. He’s famous for his iconic movie posters, including those for “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” “The Goonies,” “An American Tail,” “The Shawshank Redemption,” “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” “Hellboy,” “Pan’s Labyrinth,” and the “How to Train Your Dragon” films, among many others.

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Artists Drew Struzan and Bob Peak: Hollywood’s poster boys

Hearing about Drew Struzan’s passing really hit me hard. As someone who grew up pouring over movie posters, his work was just… iconic. Jim Lee, a legend in the comic book world himself, put it perfectly – Struzan didn’t just paint heroes, he captured *something* in their eyes, a real human quality and power that I haven’t seen matched since. Honestly, his posters *were* my childhood, and they continue to resonate even now. A true master, and we’ve lost a giant.

Steven Spielberg shared that Drew created memorable artwork for his films. He explained that Drew’s posters transformed movies into experiences, instantly bringing back vivid memories of when people first saw them, thanks to his unique and realistic style. Spielberg emphasized that Drew’s artistic approach was truly one-of-a-kind.

I first discovered Drew Struzan’s work long after seeing countless movie posters, but learning his story was fascinating. He grew up in Oregon City and eventually headed to LA to study at the Art Center College of Design. Before he became *the* movie poster artist, he actually built a reputation designing incredible album covers – I mean, he worked with bands like the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees, even Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper! Then, a film studio took a chance on him, and his very first movie poster was for the 1975 George Segal comedy, ‘The Black Bird.’

Struzan gained widespread recognition when he was commissioned to create the poster for a re-release of a famous 1977 science fiction western film.

As a huge movie fan, I always loved Drew Struzan’s work. George Lucas put it perfectly when he talked about Drew after he passed – he wasn’t just an illustrator, he was a true artist. He could really *capture* the feeling of my films with just one image. Seriously, his posters weren’t just pretty pictures, they were bursting with life and color, and you instantly knew what the movie was about. Lucas said he felt lucky to have worked with Drew so many times, and honestly, we all were lucky to experience his art.

The admiration was mutual.

According to artist Drew Struzan, George Lucas originally aspired to be an illustrator. He preferred illustrations to photographs, believing they were more emotionally impactful. Struzan also shared that he’s collaborated with Steven Spielberg since the film ‘E.T.’ and attributes their long-lasting, successful working relationship to both timing and a shared connection.

The artist emphasized that designing movie posters is a team effort. For example, when creating the poster for “Hook” (1991), Struzan read the screenplay, observed the filming process, and brainstormed concepts with Spielberg. Similarly, for “Hellboy,” Del Toro went to Struzan’s studio to discuss ideas together.

I was so saddened to hear about Drew Struzan’s passing. Guillermo del Toro perfectly captured what so many of us feel – he wasn’t just an incredibly talented artist, but a genuinely kind and wonderful person. Beyond his amazing work, I, like Guillermo, feel like I’ve lost a friend. He’ll be deeply missed.

Throughout his career, Drew Struzan received numerous honors, including a Saturn Award and an Inkpot Award. He was also recognized with induction into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame and featured in the 2013 documentary, “Drew: The Man Behind the Poster.”

In a 2017 interview with filmmaker Erik Sharkey, artist Drew Struzan explained that a movie should be understandable even without sound, as film is primarily a visual art form. He praised directors like Frank Darabont, Guillermo del Toro, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas as artists who strive to portray beauty, truth, and goodness. Struzan believes this is why their films stay with audiences – they remind us of the best aspects of humanity.

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2025-10-15 21:31