(MENAFN- Live Mint) Drew Struzan, the eminent artist behind posters for films including Star Wars, Back to the Future and Blade Runner, died on Monday. He was 78-years-old.

Earlier this year, Drew's wife shared that he had Alzheimer's – stating that the legend can no longer 'paint and sign things' for his fans.s

Drew Struzan's brother, Greg, confirmed the news of the artist's death via a post on Instagram:“It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that Drew Struzan has moved on from this world as of yesterday, October 13th. I feel it is important that you all know how many times he expressed to me the joy he felt knowing how much you appreciated his art."

Not just Star Wars and Blade Runner, Drew Struzan also made the American poster for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, iconic Hollywood movie The Shawshank Redemption among others.

Who was Drew Struzan?

Drew Struzan began his career creating album covers for major artists such as the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees, Earth, Wind & Fire, Liberace, and Black Sabbath. Later, his artwork for Alice Cooper's Welcome to My Nightmare was named one of the greatest album covers of all time by Rolling Stone.

Struzan transitioned to film posters in the 1970s, starting with B-movies before landing a project for the theatrical re-release of Star Wars. The success of that poster catapulted him to fame, making him one of the most sought-after designers of the era.

By the 1980s, Struzan was producing around ten film posters a year.

What made Struzan's posters different?

In a 2021 interview, Struzan had shared that he wanted to break away from the traditional style of early movie posters, which often resembled classic illustrations and revealed too much of the plot. His goal, he said, wasn't to tell the story but to evoke emotion - to create art that sparked curiosity and captured the sense of wonder a viewer might feel before even stepping into the theater.

“... I felt that art was more than just telling the story. In fact, telling the story in a poster is wrong for a movie. I wasn't looking to tell a story. I'm looking to give a person a feeling about something they could hope for,” the artist had shared.

Drew Struzan's poster for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

DC Comics chief Jim Lee mourned Drew Struzan's death, calling him“a giant among giants”.“His work captured the humanity, power and emotion of his subjects in ways not seen since. Thank you for bringing to life all the tentpole moments of my childhood and beyond," said Lee.

Social media mourns Drew Struzan's death

Not just DC Comics chief – netizens from across the globe paid a tribute to the“giant among giants.”

“The greatest to ever do it, Rest in peace Drew Struzan,” commented one user.

“RIP Drew Struzan, one of the greatest poster designers of all time. A legend, an inspiration,” wrote another user.

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