- Born
- Died
- Birth nameRoger Karl Kastel
- Roger Kastel was born on June 11, 1931 in White Plains, New York, USA. He was married to Grace Trowbridge. He died on November 8, 2023 in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
- SpouseGrace Trowbridge(May 25, 1957 - November 8, 2023) (his death, 2 children)
- After serving in the Navy during the Korean War, Roger returned home and became a professional artist doing freelance work for various studios, as well as ad agencies throughout New York. Eager to hone his craft, Roger, after putting in a full day's work doing storyboards, mechanicals and layouts, continued his education by returning to the Arts Students League in the evenings.
- If his work was not yet recognized globally 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. Forty years later Roger's illustration is still as instantly recognized throughout the world as when it first exploded onto the scene.
- He began his art career while still in high school, commuting into Manhattan to study at the famed Arts Students League, where other notable alumni included Frederick Remington, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Winslow Homer.
- Roger's reputation as a top flight illustrator now made its way to Hollywood, and he was asked to paint the movie poster for George Lucas' highly anticipated sequel to Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back. This poster also became an instant classic and is considered one of the most influential movie posters every produced.
- In the 1960s, a painting of Roger's won first prize from the National Fire Underwriters. This painting was made into a fire safety poster that was used for many years and had high visibility.
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