Drew Struzan, the artist behind iconic movie posters for franchises like Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Indiana Jones, died on October 13 at age 78 after a battle with Alzheimer's. His wife, writer Dylan Struzan, announced the news on Instagram, noting his daily engagement with the works of Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Cézanne. Struzan studied under Lorser Feitelson at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and was influenced by Impressionists as well as Renaissance masters like Michelangelo and Pontormo.
Struzan's death marks the loss of a singular figure whose poster art became inseparable from the cultural identity of some of the most beloved films in history. His bold, dramatic style and ability to distill a film's essence into a single image—often layering sprawling ensemble casts—earned him praise from directors like Steven Spielberg, who called him 'my favorite movie artist.' While not a traditional fine artist, Struzan's work bridged commercial illustration and popular visual culture, making his legacy relevant to discussions of art's role in mass media and entertainment.