JAWS poster designer Roger Kastel dies aged 92

Renowned artist Roger Kastel, celebrated for his iconic poster design for the classic Steven Spielberg film Jaws, has passed away, leaving behind a legacy that transcends the world of cinema.

The image, featuring a mako shark - and not a great white shark - rising from the depths towards a lone swimmer, became instantly recognisable and synonymous with the suspense and terror of the film.

Kastel didn't head to the ocean for inspiration, instead he paid a visit to the American Museum of Natural History.

There, he took a some photos of stuffed mako sharks waiting to be cleaned. They were laying on their side, but in the finished artwork the shark is positioned as if it is rising through the water.

Not that the now iconic image started life as the film's poster. In 1974, Roger's work was not yet recognised globally, but that was about to change in a big way when he accepted the challenge of illustrating the paperback cover of Peter Benchley’s bestselling classic JAWS for Bantam Books. Universal Studios, so impressed by the work, purchased the right to use this image as the poster for the movie. This was the first time that a poster image became a merchandising product in itself.

Dean Newman, Head of Content for The Daily Jaws, the world's number one JAWS fan site, said: "Kastel's ability to distill the essence of a movie into a single image was unparalleled. The JAWS poster captured the primal fear associated with the unknown lurking beneath the ocean's surface, setting a new standard for movie marketing. The image not only contributed to the film's success but also solidified Kastel's reputation as a master of visual storytelling."

And that original JAWS poster artwork that Kastel created, sadly remains missing.

Kastel's other iconic contribution to the world of film posters and popular cinema was that for the sequel to Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, creating the classic Gone With The Wind-style poster.

As news of Kastel's passing reverberates through the creative community, tributes pour in from admirers, film fans and JAWS fans at the loss of this key JAWS creative.

While Roger Kastel may no longer be with us, his artistic legacy lives on through the timeless images he created. The JAWS poster remains a testament to his talent and the power of visual storytelling.

As the world mourns the loss of a visionary artist, his work continues to inspire (and thrill and frighten) generations, ensuring that Roger Kastel's contributions to the art of cinema and beyond will be remembered for years to come.

Words by Dean Newman

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