News obituaries Legendary Movie Poster Artist Drew Struzan Has Passed Away Drew Struzan was 78. By Matthew Byrd | Published on October 14, 2025 Media: Warner Bros. Studios Comment 0 Share New Share Media: Warner Bros. Studios Legendary artist Drew Struzan (best known for his iconic movie posters) has passed away at the age of 78. The news was shared by moderators of Struzan’s official Instagram account, who wrote: “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.” At this time, no official cause of death has been announced, though it was recently confirmed that Struzan has been battling Alzheimer’s for some time. Struzan began his career designing album covers for performers such as like The Beach Boys, Black Sabbath, and Earth, Wind & Fire. His big break came in the 1970s when he began creating posters and promotional material for a new wave of sci-fi movies. Though the movies were largely low-budget affairs, Struzan quickly earned a reputation as an artist whose work could elevate nearly any project regardless of its size. When he was commissioned to design a poster for the 1978 re-release of Star Wars, Struzan finally found the movie that was as epic as the worlds he depicted in his stunning airbrushed drawings. From there, Struzan went on to design the posters for Blade Runner, The Thing, Back to the Future, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and many other films that now define one of the most celebrated eras of genre blockbusters. Though film poster style gradually pivoted to more digitally-focused formats, Struzan remained a legend in the industry who was often called upon when a movie demanded his timeless and irreplaceable sense of style. Struzan’s final posters (such as his work for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and other special projects) demonstrate how he could capture the spirit of an era while continuing to evoke its power with just a few strokes of his brush. As such, words feel inadequate to describe the legacy of an artist whose work likely once hung on your wall or simply lives on in your heart. He helped to redefine the power of a poster and remains a testament to the value of art and artists within every facet of every creative industry. [end-mark] The post Legendary Movie Poster Artist Drew Struzan Has Passed Away appeared first on Reactor.