The Legacy of Drew Struzan
Drew Struzan, an extraordinary artist whose posters lit up movie theaters across the globe, died on October 13, 2025, at his home in Pasadena, California, at the age of 78. His wife, Dylan, attributed his passing to Alzheimer's disease. Struzan's ability to encapsulate the magic of beloved franchises like Star Wars and Indiana Jones speaks volumes about his talents and the impact he made on filmmaking.
Over approximately 50 years, Struzan designed around 200 movie posters, including all seven original Star Wars films, four of the five Indiana Jones films, and countless other classics such as E.T. the Extraterrestrial and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. His legacy we've come to recognize is an intersection of artistry and marketing, where every brushstroke was a promise of the adventure and emotions waiting on screen.
A Painter of Ghosts and Legends
Struzan's technique was a unique blend of realism and abstraction. His process involved using acrylic paints airbrushed over preliminary sketches, crafting images that suggested narratives without divulging the endings. Struzan himself stated, “I look for the best pictures I can find of the actors and scenes. I look for the color palette. Then I design a composition that is open-ended,” revealing his philosophy of creating intrigue rather than giving away the plot.
“What Struzan did that was so revolutionary was that he brought back painterliness to posters.” - Dwight Cleveland
Memorable Creations
The fluidity of Struzan's work drew the viewer in. His poster for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade makes use of warm sepia tones to juxtapose father and son, while capturing the essence of adventure. When Steven Spielberg remarked about the responsibility filmmakers felt to live up to Drew's art, it highlighted how critical his work was to the franchise's identity.
Not just limited to fantasy and adventure genres, Struzan's art on the poster for John Carpenter's The Thing demonstrated his innovative thinking. With minimal information on the film, he devised a haunting image of a faceless figure overwhelmed by an icy landscape, sparking intrigue in audiences and encapsulating the film's themes perfectly.
The Man Behind the Masterpieces
Born on March 18, 1947, in Oregon City, Oregon, Struzan's artistic talent was evident from an early age. Despite facing familial challenges, he nurtured his creativity. He graduated from the ArtCenter College of Design in Los Angeles in 1970, where his work quickly caught the attention of the film industry.
Much of Struzan's early success can be attributed to his work at Pacific Eye & Ear, where he began to explore album cover design, including for rock legends like Alice Cooper. It was a billboard for his cover of Cooper's album Welcome to My Nightmare that led to his first movie-poster gig, cementing his passage into the cinematic world.
The Cultural Impact of His Work
Struzan's work wasn't merely selling films; it was crafting a visual language that communicated the emotional core and thematic focus of cinematic experiences. Artists like Bill Gold and Robert Peak, contemporaries in poster art, recognized his contributions to the evolution of the artwork associated with cinema.
The way he captured actors' likenesses—often resulting in poignant and nostalgic portrayals—turned his posters into timeless pieces of art. Harrison Ford, who was immortalized in icons from Indiana Jones to Star Wars, stated, “It looks like me, but it's invested with the nature and the character of Indiana Jones.” This sentiment reflects how Struzan's art fostered a blend of performance and poster, a relationship that the world is only beginning to explore.
Continuing the Tradition of Artistic Legacy
As we reflect on Struzan's contributions, it's clear he was much more than a poster artist. He was an unsung hero of the film industry whose work bridged generational gaps, connecting those who grew up anticipating the cinematic event to the new wave of viewers. His talent was essential in defining how visual storytelling is experienced and understood in our culture.
Remembering Drew Struzan
In the wake of Struzan's passing, the film industry mourns a luminary who painted our dreams. His incredible journey and artistry remain visible on the walls of movie theaters worldwide, bits of his essence captured in each frame that echoes his iconic illustrations. As we celebrate his life, Struzan's legacy reminds us that art is literally everywhere, turning simple advertisements into emotional experiences that define our love for cinema.
Source reference: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/obituaries/drew-struzan-dead.html
