Liputan6.com, Jakarta The art and film world mourns the passing of one of the most influential poster masters, Drew Struzan.
The legendary artist, whose work graced iconic films like Star Wars and Indiana Jones, passed away on October 13, 2025, at the age of 78.
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Drew Struzan's death was caused by complications from Alzheimer's disease, which he had been suffering from for several years, as reported by Variety.
The sad news was announced directly via his official Instagram account by his brother, Greg Struzan.
In the post, Greg expressed how much Drew appreciated fans' appreciation for his work.
Before his death, Drew Struzan's health had reportedly deteriorated, leaving him unable to paint or sign his work.
Drew Struzan was widely known for his distinctive artistic style, combining airbrush techniques with dramatic photorealism.
Drew Struzan's Early Career
Drew Struzan was born in Oregon City, Oregon, on March 18, 1947, and showed artistic talent from a young age.
At the age of 18 in 1965, he decided to study illustration at ArtCenter College of Design in West Los Angeles.
Struzan chose illustration for financial stability, a decision that led to his graduation with a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors after five years of study.
After completing his education, Drew Struzan began his career as a staff artist at Pacific Eye & Ear, a Los Angeles-based design studio.
His work graced albums by legendary bands such as The Beach Boys, Bee Gees, Black Sabbath, and Alice Cooper, with the cover of "Welcome to My Nightmare" even being recognized by Rolling Stone as one of his best.
In 1975, Drew Struzan began his career in the world of movie posters, beginning with work for B-movies.
Drew Struzan's Iconic Work in Hollywood
Drew Struzan's major career breakthrough came in 1978 when he was commissioned to create the poster for the theatrical re-release of Star Wars, which became known as the "Circus" poster.
Drew Struzan's most famous works include the Star Wars and Indiana Jones film series, whose posters have become synonymous with those franchises.
He also created iconic posters for Back to the Future, Harry Potter, Blade Runner, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Shawshank Redemption, The Thing, The Goonies, First Blood, and Coming to America.
He even designed the original logo for Industrial Light & Magic, George Lucas's visual effects company.
Drew Struzan is known for his distinctive "one-sheet" airbrush technique, which made him a master of the tool.
Directors like Steven Spielberg have praised his work as "event art" that makes many films "a destination," while George Lucas has called him "an artist of the highest caliber" who "captures the excitement, tone, and spirit of each of his films."
Drew Struzan's Retirement
Drew Struzan officially announced his retirement on September 3, 2008, after completing extensive work on the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull campaign.
However, he has returned from retirement several times for highly sought-after special projects.
These include the cover for Stephen King's The Dark Tower in 2012, an alternate poster for Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015, and three separate posters for the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy in 2019.
In 2019, Drew Struzan also illustrated the book A Bloody Business, written by his wife, Dylan Struzan.
Throughout his illustrious career, he has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Saturn Award in 2002 and the Inkpot Award in 2010.
Recognition for his contributions also came in the form of several lifetime achievement awards, such as the Saul Bass Award in 2014, the Sergio Award in 2016, and his induction into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 2020.
Drew Struzan is survived by his wife, Dylan Struzan, and a son, Christian.