Roger Kastel

Roger Kastel (June 11, 1931 – November 8, 2023) was an American artist, known for creating the posters for the films Jaws (1975) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980).

He later lived in Milford, Massachusetts, occasionally commuting to Manhattan to attend classes at the Art Students League of New York.

[2] Kastel resided in Clove Valley in Dutchess County, New York for 47 years, where in a 200-year old barn which he had converted into a studio, created both the Jaws and Empire Strikes Back illustrations.

It was here Kastel had his greatest success, painting the iconic paperback book cover for Jaws, which was later used as the movie poster for the 1974 Spielberg film.

In addition, he illustrated several best-selling books, including several by Jackie Collins, and Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (1974), and The Great Santini (1976).