Sad Day for Movie Nerds: Drew Struzan, the Man Who Painted Our Dreams, Has Passed Away at 78

John Summers • Contributor

Oct 15, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

There are very few artists whose work is so iconic that it becomes inseparable from the stories it represents. For Star Wars fans - and really, for anyone who's ever loved the magic of the movies - Drew Struzan was one of those artists. He didn't just make posters; he made portals. His brushstrokes were our first steps into galaxies far, far away.

Struzan, who passed away at the age of 78, leaves behind a legacy that can only be described as cinematic mythology. Before most of us even saw Star Wars, Indiana Jones, or Back to the Future, we saw his versions - the glowing faces, the dramatic lighting, the perfect balance between mystery and nostalgia. His posters didn't just advertise films. They defined them.

His collaboration with Star Wars began in 1978, when he was asked to create a poster for the re-release of A New Hope. It was the start of a lifelong connection between his art and the galaxy George Lucas built. From there, Struzan went on to design some of the most unforgettable images in the saga - from the classic trilogy reissues to the prequels, and even coming out of retirement in 2015 to paint a special poster for The Force Awakens.

Lucasfilm's Kathleen Kennedy called his work "timeless," adding that his art "elevated the movie-going experience before audiences even stepped foot into a theater." George Lucas himself described him as "an artist of the highest order," whose illustrations "captured the excitement, tone, and spirit" of his films.

And they're right. Struzan's posters were more than marketing. They were emotional storytelling distilled into a single frame - a talent that seems almost lost in today's era of Photoshop collages and teaser thumbnails. His art felt handmade because it was. Each highlight, each shadow, each glow of a lightsaber or glimmer of a fedora felt alive.

He didn't just work on Star Wars - his brush graced E.T., Blade Runner, The Goonies, Hook, Harry Potter, and, of course, the Indiana Jones series. Steven Spielberg once said that "I had to almost live up to the art Drew created for the poster." That's the kind of respect you earn when your work can make even the greatest filmmakers nervous to follow you.

For many of us, Drew Struzan was the movies. He painted adventure, hope, and heroism in a way that made us believe. His influence can be seen everywhere - in fan art, reimagined posters, and even modern blockbuster marketing that still tries (and usually fails) to capture the same magic.

Drew Struzan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a few years ago and is survived by his wife, Dylan, and son, Christian. He may be gone, but his worlds - the ones he painted - will live forever.

Below are just some of his unbelievable works: