Drew Struzan, the legendary artist whose cinematic posters became as iconic as the films themselves, has died at 78. The news was confirmed through his official Instagram account, which revealed that Struzan passed away on October 13 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

For over four decades, Struzan’s vivid compositions shaped the visual identity of modern cinema. His work adorned the posters of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Back to the Future, The Goonies, The Thing, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, among many others. Known for his photorealistic style, rich color palette, and emotional depth, Struzan captured the very soul of storytelling, often distilling an entire film’s spirit into a single, unforgettable image.

Filmmakers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were among his most loyal collaborators. Spielberg once described him as “my favorite movie artist,” adding that his posters set a standard the films themselves had to live up to. Lucas similarly credited Struzan with turning film advertising into an art form.

Tributes poured in from across Hollywood following his passing. Spielberg wrote, “Drew made event art. His posters made many of our movies into destinations.” Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro called him “a genial man, a genius communicator and supreme artist,” while DC Comics president Jim Lee hailed him as “a giant among giants.”

Born in Oregon in 1947, Struzan began his career designing album covers before transitioning to film posters in the 1970s, where his partnership with major studios and auteurs quickly cemented his reputation. His creative process — hand-painted, intensely detailed, and emotionally charged — stood apart from the digital artwork that would later dominate the industry.

His legacy was captured in the 2013 documentary Drew: The Man Behind the Poster, which celebrated his indelible mark on pop culture.

Reflecting on his career in 2018, Struzan said, “My favorite poster is always the next one.”