Via Lucasfilm we sadly learn of the passing of Charles White III, known to Star Wars fans as the artist who along with Drew Struzan created the D Circus poster for the 1978 general release of Star Wars.
Struzan spoke of his work with Charles White III in an August 1999 interview with Airbrush Magazine.
‘I will never fail to give credit to Charlie White for what he did for me. It may have been a small thing to him, but a life changer for me. He is an extraordinary artist famed for his airbrush work. He had the desirable assignment to do the one-sheet poster for the re-release of Star Wars in 1978. He is marvellous at painting objects, but was hesitant to paint portraits for the poster. Somehow, he asked me to paint the portraits while he would paint the droids and the like…Only an extraordinary individual does anything so generous and unselfish. It is the individual who deserves the honor. I have no doubt that there was a desire on Charlie’s part to do the best job possible on the Star Wars project…It was to his advantage to use the best talent he could find. He also gave the lettering to a great letterer. It made for an outstanding poster. All of us who worked on it have been proud ever since to have had the opportunity. It remains a perennial favorite, even among Hollywood executives.’
The original artwork of the D Circus poster is rumoured to hang in George Lucas’ house, and is his favourite Star Wars poster art.
Everyone at Fantha Tracks sends their condolences to his family and friends.
