You may not know Drew Struzan’s name, but you might be familiar with his legendary artworks that have defined the world’s cinematic experience. 

Struzan, the artist behind some of the most legendary movie posters in cinematic history — including Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Harry Potter and The Goonies — has passed away at the age of 78. 

While no cause of death has been announced, it was known since April that Struzan had been battling Alzheimer’s.

Born in 1947, Struzan began his career illustrating album covers and commercial art before making a breakthrough into Hollywood film posters in the late 1970s. His use of color, light and dramatic composition turned posters into collectible works of art, blending realism with emotion.

At a time when digital design was beginning to dominate, Struzan remained committed to traditional methods, painting with pencils, airbrushes and acrylics.

One of Struzan’s most notable work was the 1975 cover for Alice Cooper’s Welcome to My Nightmare, which was listed among Rolling Stone’s top 100 classic album covers. His entry into film poster work came shortly after, with his contribution to the 1977 Star Wars re-release poster (Style D), done in collaboration with artist Charles White III. In 1978, he also created promotional art for The Star Wars Holiday Special, laying the groundwork for his long association with George Lucas’ galaxy far, far away.

Struzan’s 1980s output would define the visual language of blockbuster cinema. He illustrated the circus-style poster for The Empire Strikes Back (1980), followed by Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). His work on the E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and the dystopian Blade Runner (1982) became cultural landmarks. 

That same year, he crafted the now-iconic The Thing poster, completed in less than 24 hours with almost no reference material. He continued his Lucasfilm collaborations with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and made cinematic history again with Back to the Future (1985). Other 1980s highlights include his warm, whimsical work for An American Tail (1986) and his trilogy-completing posters for Back to the Future Part II and Part III (1989).

In the 1990s, Struzan brought his signature style to films like Hocus Pocus (1993). In 1997, he returned to Star Wars, creating new theatrical posters for the Special Edition re-releases of the original trilogy. In 1999, his teaser poster for The Phantom Menace — showing young Anakin Skywalker casting the ominous shadow of Darth Vader — became one of the most powerful and memorable pieces in the saga’s visual canon.

During the 2000s, Struzan continued to deliver iconic imagery. Though he didn’t create the official theatrical posters for the Harry Potter series, he did produce promotional art and collector’s edition covers, such as for The Sorcerer’s Stone (2002) and The Goblet of Fire (2005). 

In 2004, he collaborated with Guillermo del Toro for Hellboy. Four years later, he closed a long chapter in his career with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, having illustrated all four of the franchise’s posters.

Even as digital design began to dominate, Struzan remained relevant into the 2010s and beyond. In 2011, he created a special Walking Dead poster for San Diego Comic-Con. And in 2015, although no longer working on major commercial releases, he created a promotional poster for Star Wars: The Force Awakens at the request of J.J. Abrams.

Struzan’s legacy is further cemented through books like Drew Struzan: Oeuvre (2004) and The Art of Drew Struzan (2010).