Drew Struzan’s Death: The legendary creator of Star Wars, Indiana Jones and the return of future posters were 78 years old

“There is only one artist in a decade that can copy what the film’s experience may be, for the whole generation.

These were the excited words of Guillermo Del Toro, who discussed the work of a huge artist in his field, who is likely to be the most famous creator film posters in the 2010 excellent documentary, Drew: The poster behind the poster.

In March 2025, his wife warned, heartbroken Message posted on FacebookDrew Struzan’s sudden deterioration of health, affected by Alzheimer’s disease. “The love you sent will receive gratitude and often with the tears of joy. You who have touched his work is his legacy. Please continue to share your thoughts and experience. It will make him smile on these difficult days. He wrote.

The disease eventually achieved it better, taking away the creator of this genius at the age of 78.

His name may mean nothing for you, but you really know the work of Dr. Struzan. This legendary artist created icon posters of the original Star Wars Trilogy, The Prequels, Indiana Jones, Et, Back to the Future Saga, Goonies, Blade Runner, Thing, Harry Potter, Escapees and many more.

In total, he created more than 150 film posters. An incredible part of American cinema that makes it an absolute image of pop culture. And inspiration matrix for the entire generation of illustrators.

“I was poor and hungry”

Born on March 8, 1947, in Portland, Oregon, Drew Struzan grew up in a very vulnerable family environment. “I was poor and hungry. The illustration was the shortest way of a piece of bread, compared to the gallery exhibition. I had nothing in my childhood. He said Interview in 1999. To achieve this, he sells his paintings here and for modest payments there.

He managed to study prestigious Arts Center Design College In Passadena, which he joined in 1965. After receiving the quality of the university, he remained in Los Angeles, and the opportunity at the Employment Agency enabled him to resign as a salary performer Pacific’s eye and earDesign Studio. There he began to create records of album recordings. A job that does not pay much: his salary ranges from $ 150 to $ 250 on the album cover.

The first movie posters

With the help of a friend, Drew Struzan sets a small structure, Pencil pushes. And began to create, since 1975, some posters of the B series of films, such as ants of ants. His meeting with the famous air brush artist Charles White III, who had a connection to Hollywood, was crucial.

In 1977, the latter was hired by David Weecner, Vice President of the FOX, the 20th century FOX, a poster for the re-release of Star Wars in 1978. White, portrait uncomfortable, demanded Struzan’s help for this project. That is why it is the one who paints human characters with oil paint, while white is concentrated on ships, Dart Wader, C-3po and other details of the poster.

“The posters were not really collected before.”Tells the story of Struzan Interview in 2004. “But the paintings on the posters ended better and better, and the posters have become the power to be considered – collecting, remembering, respecting and respecting.”

“I draw the heart of the subject”

With the global crisis adjacent to the star wars, his career is now in orbit. But how does he find inspiration for his posters? Drew Struzan explained this Interview for HuffpostIn 2017.

“They write a story and they make a movie, then I talk to writers, producers, and especially directors, and I ask them: “What do you lead to a few years of your life to make this movie? What does it say?” They tell me why they did it and when they express them I immediately know what to paint. I draw the heart that created this thing. This is what I do, I draw the heart of the subject. ”

A little more to add: “I made film posters for all kinds of people and studios. We sat on the table and talked for hours. I always get rid of exactly what I want. This is always the first idea that is the best. Because the first idea is the cleanest answer to what they want.

The first idea is the easiest to get to know because we believe it. But this is not always what they choose because they often have their own ideas. And that’s what I have to draw because I’m a professional. And I will do the best thing I can and I will not leave the studio until I think the poster represents what they want. “

“The 80’s was an era when the art of poster was the strongest”

The 80’s was a real golden age for an artist; George Lucas and Steven Spielberg are now swearing. Lucas goes as much as he asks to create a logoIndustrial light and magic, A legendary company that specializes in the creation of SFX. When ET came out of theaters in 1982, Spielberg did not authorize the use of aliens to promote the film, but he wanted his creature to be represented by Drew Struzan’s character.

The period that only summarizes what we consider today to name the Pantheon of Star Wars Saga, Indiana Jones in the future, in the future, to identify only the most emblem examples. Drew Struzan says nothing else, while he regrets the mass invasion of computers in the 90’s, where the approach was still handmade and textbook.

“I think the 80’s was the time when the art of poster was the strongest.”” In 2004 he announced Struzan. “It began to decline in the 90’s, when computers came on stage; he had taken away a lot of work. People were delighted with these new computer means for the last 10 years, to a point where there were almost no illustrations. Because they learned to use computers.

Creativity is still intense in 1990-2000

Although its activities were affected by computers, Drew Struzan Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s StonePan Labyrinth …) and also create stamps for US postal, comic book boxes … he also regularly reveals his work in the four corners of the earth.

Star Wars: Episode I – Phantom Menace’s release, George Luke imposed a contract that the Struzan poster was the only work that could use foreign distributors, and that he could not change the text in any way. This shows him confidence and respect for him.

After the creation of the poster of Indiana Jones and Crystal Master’s kingdom, Drew Struzan declared retirement in September 2008. Which will never end. For example, in 2015, he agreed to create Star Wars – Force Awakens.

In 2020, Drew Struzan will make a record quite late, given its exception Hall of Fame of the Illustrators Society. Opportunity to view the presentation and tribute video shot under Frank Darabonti, who asked him to create posters Flee And the green line. Also to see Michael J.

In A tribute that welcomes his huge career and which he has paid for in 2018Drew Struzan had these deeply moving words that received Kyle Lambert’s hand, The Stranger Things Poster artist, a specially designed creature that combines the works of his life.

“I think about my childhood and about how I never had a birthday party, I never had a nice meal. Everywhere I went, I was crazy.It was referring to the filmmakers who hired him for years, such as Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Frank Darabont and Guillermo Del Toro.

For so long artist …