Iconic movie poster artist Bill Gold dies aged 97
Bill Gold, an artist who has worked on absolutely hundreds (and we mean hundreds) of movie posters, has died at the age of 97.
The Hollywood Reporter states that Gold passed away at his home in Old Greenwich, Connecticut on Sunday (May 20), which his spokesperson Christine Gillow later confirmed.
Films he worked on include Casablanca, A Clockwork Orange, Ryan's Daughter, Diamonds Are Forever, Smokey and the Bandit, Clash of the Titans and Great Balls of Fire! to name just a few.
Poster artist Bill Gold has passed away. Across a career that lasted several decades, he designed some of the most iconic posters for many of the biggest films in history, including CASABLANCA, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, DIRTY HARRY, and THE EXORCIST. We will greatly miss him. pic.twitter.com/NEoZPVuHGY
- Talk Film Society (@TalkFilmSoc) May 20, 2018
He collaborated with director Clint Eastwood multiple times, beginning with Dirty Harry in 1971. He originally retired after doing the poster for Mystery River in 2003, but briefly returned to work on J Edgar in 2011.
Eastwood actually wrote the introduction to a book collecting his work that was released in 2010 (and costs a fortune, just FYI).
"The first image you have of many of your favourite films is probably a Bill Gold creation," Eastwood wrote in Bill Gold PosterWorks.
RIP design titan Bill Gold who was responsible for countless classic posters, most notably for the majority of Clint Eastwood’s films. The attached might just be by favourite. Here are some others: https://t.co/ndgjBjiBy6 pic.twitter.com/7qlhM1aujo
- Filmonpaper.com (@FilmOnPaper) May 21, 2018
Among those who paid tribute to Gold on Twitter are A Clockwork Orange actor Malcolm McDowell, who said: "RIP Bill Gold, the talented artist who designed the poster for A Clockwork Orange, among many others."
RIP Bill Gold, the talented artist who designed the poster for A Clockwork Orange, among many others. pic.twitter.com/OSEbtEboqC
- Malcolm McDowell (@McDowellMalc) May 21, 2018
Comic book artist and scriptwriter Jim Palmiotti tweeted: "I worked with Bill...before I did comics.
"I would, at times, go to Bill's office on Park Avenue and later in the west village and work on them with him over my shoulder. I learned a lot from him."
I worked with Bill...before I did comics.
REST IN PEACE. Bill Gold, Iconic Master of the Movie Poster, Dies at 97 https://t.co/QYQjOpNObm via @thr- Jimmy Palmiotti (@jpalmiotti) May 20, 2018
Couple of the posters I worked on for Bill Gold when I was doing photo retouching back in the 80's. I would, at times, go to Bill's office on Park Avenue and later in the west village and work on them with him over my shoulder. I learned a lot from him. pic.twitter.com/d2kqyOWGDg
- Jimmy Palmiotti (@jpalmiotti) May 20, 2018
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