The iconic movie poster artist behind Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Back to the Future has died at the age of 78.
Drew Struzan passed away several years after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
He was responsible for over 150 film posters, including: The Shawshank Redemption, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Blade Runner and Harry Potter.
The news was announced by his brother Greg Struzan on his official Instagram account on Tuesday.
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The statement read: "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."
The American illustrator was beloved by film directors Steven Spielberg and George Lucas for his work in the industry.
He did all his work by hand, beginning with pencil drawings and layering airbrush, acrylics, and coloured pencils.
Drew Struzan has died at the age of 78
|GETTY
The American also dipped into the music industry, creating album covers for a number of hit records for artists like The Beach Boys, Bee Gees and Earth Wind & Fire.
Mr Struzan, who has over 100,000 followers on Instagram, announced his retirement in 2008, but returned to design posters for Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy.
His artistic talent earned him numerous honours, including a Saturn Award in 2002 and an induction into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 2020.
While discussing the creative process behind each poster in 2021, Struzan told Slashfilm that he feels art is "more than just telling the story."
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The iconic movie poster artist was behind Star Wars and Indiana Jones posters
|PARAMOUNT/20CENTURYFOX
He added: "I’m looking to give a person a feeling about something they could hope for.
"I asked the directors what they’re doing and why they were doing it, [and] I try to find the best in what they are doing, then I paint that way."
In March this year, Mr Struzan's wife revealed he had been living with Alzheimer's disease in a health update posted on her social media.
The statement read: "Drew can no longer paint or sign things for you. He is not enjoying a well-deserved retirement but rather fighting for his life."
In March this year, Mr Struzan's wife revealed he had been living with Alzheimer's disease
|She added: "He hears all the comments you have left here on these pages. It encourages him. At first he was able to express his thoughts but as time progressed it became infinitely more difficult.'
She continued: "I rely on our 60 years of marriage working as a team to remember for him. Jon, who posts many things here, relies on research in the many hours of interviews both written and filmed to fill in Drew’s thoughts.
"Drew has left a strong legacy of love and joy in the form of his work. It has always been a love letter of sorts.
"His aim was to make the earth a better place in which to live by creating something beautiful. But like a flower, his season is ending."
Tributes have poured in from his fans and former collaborators on social media
|Tributes have poured in from his fans and former collaborators on social media.
DC president and Batman artist Jim Lee wrote: "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."
Marvel artist J Scott Campbell described the news as "heartbreaking" and admitted he was having trouble wrapping his "mind around the finality of it all."
He added: "He has left us all with so much beauty to enjoy for generations to come. I know the past few years have been especially difficult and I can only hope that this gives him and all of his loved ones some sense of peace."