Today the world lost a quiet giant of imagination: Drew Struzan, whose iconic movie posters shaped a generation’s dreams, passed away on October 13, 2025, at the age of 78.
His work lives on in my memory. The sweeping vistas of Star Wars and Indiana Jones, the neon-lit mystery of Blade Runner, the wonder of E.T., the electric energy of Back to the Future, and many more. His art didn’t just promote films; it drew us into their worlds with a whisper of magic, a promise of adventure.
Struzan once said that a poster should not tell the story, but evoke a feeling — a promise of something magical yet unknown. To me, his paintings were portals: gateways to excitement, nostalgia, and yearning, all at once.
In his later years, he faced Alzheimer’s, a cruel eraser of memory for someone whose gift was to immortalize it. Yet even as he lost the ability to paint or sign his name, the power of his vision endured.
This post is my permanent hymn to him: A place I can return to whenever I need to whisper thanks, and revisit those images that colored my youth with such brilliant hues. Thank you, Mr. Struzan, for giving us dreams in paint and passion in every brushstroke. Your legacy lives in every poster, every film you touched, and in the hearts of everyone who ever stood before your art and felt that flutter of possibility.
A Window Into His World
If you want to understand the depth of his artistry and the man behind these iconic images, watch Drew: The Man Behind the Poster—a documentary that captures both his extraordinary talent and humble spirit.
