Remembering Drew Struzan: Iconic Movie Poster Artist Behind Star Wars and Indiana Jones

Renowned movie poster artist, Drew Struzan, known for his iconic work on popular films, has passed away at 78. Once called “the one-sheet wonder,” he brought films such as Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Harry Potter to life with his dramatic, colourful art. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s several years ago, Struzan had stepped away from public life.

– Drew Struzan, known as the “one-sheet wonder”, was a revered movie poster artist who created artworks for many iconic films, including Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Harry Potter. He was acclaimed for his bold, dramatic style that perfectly captured the essence of a movie and its characters in a single image.
– Struzan passed away at the age of 78, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease several years ago. His death was announced via his official Instagram account, leading to an outpouring of condolences from notable figures in the film and art world.
– Struzan’s work was documented in a 2013 film called Drew: The Man Behind the Poster, and he always maintained that his favorite piece was the next one he was going to create, indicating his continuous drive for creative innovation.

The sad news of Struzan’s demise was shared on Tuesday via his official Instagram account. The message stated: “It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that Drew Struzan has moved on from this world as of yesterday, October 13th. I feel it is important that you all know how many times he expressed to me the joy he felt knowing how much you appreciated his art.”

Drew Struzan had earned the nickname “one-sheet wonder” in his lifetime and was a go-to artist for famous directors such as Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. His creations include the poster art for movies like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Risky Business, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (special edition), Back to the Future, The Goonies, The Thing, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

His art was characterized by a distinctive bold, dramatic and colorful style. Struzan succeeded in accurately encapsulating a film’s essence, often with a strong emphasis on its characters. Crafting a vast cast into a singular image was a particular skill of Struzan. Spielberg once referred to him as “my favorite movie artist” and later stated, “I had to almost live up to the art that we later were going to ask Drew to create for the poster.”

The announcement of his passing sparked a wave of tributes from diverse quarters. Spielberg lauded Struzan’s unique talents stating, “Drew made event art. His posters made many of our movies into destinations… and the memory of those movies and the age we were when we saw them always comes flashing back just by glancing at his iconic photorealistic imagery. In his own invented style, nobody drew like Drew.”

Guillermo del Toro expressed his grief stating, “The world lost a genial man, a genius communicator and supreme artist. I lost a friend — beloved Drew.”

Other figures from the comic book world expressed their condolences as well. Marvel artist J. Scott Campbell said: “Very heartbreaking to read this and to wrap my mind around the finality of it all, of an amazing man and the legacy of incredible work. He has left us all with so much beauty to enjoy for generations to come. I know the past few years have been especially difficult and I can only hope that this gives him and all of his loved ones some sense of peace.”

In 2018, at a tribute organized for Struzan, the artist spoke about his journey. “I’m thinking about my childhood and how I never had a birthday party, never had a good meal, everywhere I went, I worked my ass off. Nothing was ever given to me before, except by these lovely people”, said Struzan, referring to the directors who hired him over the years.

Struzan’s work was the focus of a 2013 documentary titled Drew: The Man Behind the Poster, directed by Erik Sharkey. Asked about his favorite poster, Struzan’s response reflected his endless passion for creativity. “If I had a favorite, then I would have already done the best I can do. I’d lose my spark of creativity. My favorite is always the very next one”, he had said.