James Bond poster creator, painter and illustrator Robert E. McGinnis has died at the age of 99. The artist died March 10 in Old Greenwich, Conneticut but the news is only now becoming public. It was confirmed on Legacy.com. He was known for his swinging sixties pin-up girl-style images of bikini-clad women consorting with manly men and his iconic artwork helped elevate some of the early Bond movies. He designed the posters for Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Diamonds Are Forever, Live and Let Die and the spoof 60s outing Casino Royale amongst others. His work featured the super spy consorting with beautiful, scatily clad women cementing the big screen icon's reputation as a womaniser.
Prior to Bond his first movie poster commission was for the iconic Audrey Hepburn movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The famous poster featured an illustration of Audrey Hepburn smoking a cigarette in a long holder with her cat wrapped around her neck. Speaking about it later in life he said of Audrey: “You didn’t have to do much with her. She’s so perfect.” One of his more recent iconic posters was for the Disney hit animation The Incredibles.
Fans were devastated by the news and flooded to social media to pay tribute. "One of the main reasons Bond has not only survived, but thrived through out many incarnations is the absolutely genius marketing around every film, that super recognisable aesthetic. See also the soundtrack and specifically the opening theme songs.
"Also, for work that can be considered sexist, (it) is interesting that it also has some of the strongest, most memorable females in cinema history.
"I was born in 1980, and somehow even though I was like 4-5 years old... one of my earliest memories, second to A-Ha's video for Take on Me, are both the movie poster with the majestic Grace Jones and Duran Duran's absolute banger from View to a kill.
"What a life, what a career, what an influence in pop culture. Rest in eternal peace and movie magic, absolute legend!" one gushed on Reddit.
"Damn. RIP Robert E. McGinnis One of the best to do it and an immeasurable influence on my own career; I always strive and will continue to be as good as McGinnis. His legacy in pop culture is beyond measure; even if you don’t know his name, you know his work," another raved on X.
"Robert E. McGinnis one of my idols of poster art had passed away earlier this month. He was most famous for his James Bond 007 posters. I guess it takes longer to see the obituary when one is not as famous as the stars one paints," a third lamented.
Robert was predeceased by his wife of 75 years, Ferne (who served in the critical support role toward Robert's success as an artist, and who was also creative and a talented pastels artist), and by four of his five siblings.
He is survived by his children Melinda, Laurie and Kyle, three grandchildren and a brother, David McGinnis.
