We’re sorry to report the death of artist Roger Kastel, perhaps best known as the artist who created iconic posters for the iconic Jaws and The Empire Strikes Back. He was 92.
Roger Kastel was an award-winning artist whose work is instantly recognised in popular culture. His talent was sought after by legendary filmmakers, authors, publishing houses, and production studios. The result – iconic imagery, that will remain timeless.
Paying tribute, fellow artist Bob Eggleton described Roger as a good man and friend, noting how film director George Lucas, on commissioning his first Star Wars work, the first poster for The Empire Strikes Back, gave him a deal so he could make and sell prints of his TESB art, and any Star Wars image or character – forever. On the Jaws poster, Roger, well aware of Steven Spielberg’s raw talent, opted for royalties for what was told to him was going to “last in theaters and drive ins for a week” – a decision that never came back to bite him.
Roger’s official website carries a full announcement of his passing, paying tribute to Roger Karl Kastel, beloved husband, father, uncle, and friend, who died Wednesday 8th November 2023 at age 92 in Worcester County, MA. He was born in White Plains, NY on 11th June 1931, the son of Anna and Karl Kastel.
After graduating from White Plains High School, Roger Kastel attended the Art Students League in New York City until serving in the U.S. Navy for four years during the Korean War. He was a proud American.
During the Korean War, Roger was stationed in California and Hawaii. While in California, Roger met and fell in love with Grace Trowbridge. Upon returning to New York City after the war, Roger married Grace and happily took minor art jobs (ie, sweeping floors and delivering completed art for an art studio) in the hopes of getting his foot in the door. He was thrilled to have the opportunity to be around artists. Roger eventually landed a job drawing cartoons for Reddy Kilowatt (an electric advertising company) and returned to the Art Students League to study.
Roger got his first paying art job at the age of 15 doing industrial cartoons. He sold his first illustration in the early 1960s and illustrated paperback book covers and movie posters over the next forty years. Roger worked for all of the major publishers in New York City. Included in his over 1000 illustrations were the movie posters for the iconic Jaws and The Empire Strikes Back.
His distinctive art also includes the Doc Savage film poster and cover art for Issue #1 of the acclaimed 1975 Doc Savage comic.
Roger’s painting of Jaws is included in the books,
The Illustrator in America and 200 Years of American Illustration.
While Jaws and The Empire Strikes Back may be the most widely recognised of his work, Roger received multiple awards for various other illustrations and fine art over the years.
While in New York City, Roger lived in Greenwich Village with his wife and two children until 1970 when they moved to beautiful Clove Valley in Duchess County, NY where Roger and Grace lived for the next 45 years. They retired to Milford, MA in 2013 where Roger continued to paint fine art, exhibiting in art shows and galleries.
After moving to Milford, Roger became a member of the Wellesley Society of Artists in Wellesley, MA. Roger truly loved the art world; paintings, artists, art museums, and galleries. Early in their relationship, Roger informed Grace, “Art is my life,” and it was!
Roger is survived by his wife Grace of 66 years (born in Bethel CT), his daughter Beth Krebs and her husband Michael of Sherborn, MA and his son Matthew Kastel and his wife Karen of Monrovia, MD. Roger was the proud grandfather of Jessica and Glen Krebs and Luke and Grant Kastel as well as his great-grandson Liam Kirk-Krebs. Roger is also survived by several nieces, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
In lieu of flowers his family requests donations to The Artists’ Fellowship, Inc., 47 Fifth Ave. New York, NY 10003. One of Roger’s favourite charities, The Artists’ Fellowship, Inc. is a charitable organisation that assists professional artists in times of emergency, disability, or bereavement.
Roger Kastel, born 11th June 1931, died 8th November 2023 at age 92
Official Site: rogerkastel.com | Buy his art
Further Tributes
• Deadline
• Tripwire
Covers sourced online, including gallery collections by Leo Boudreau and Steve Wallace
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Art and Illustration, downthetubes News, Features, Film, Obituaries, Other Worlds, Star Wars