Tony Seiniger, celebrated for his groundbreaking movie posters and marketing campaigns, passed away on May 11 in Atlanta at the age of 87.
Early Life and Education
Born in New York City, Seiniger pursued his artistic passion at the Rhode Island School of Design. His career began at EUE/Screen Gems in New York, where he worked in commercial production and key art design. During this period, he designed posters for notable films such as “Shaft” and “Mean Streets.”
Establishing Seiniger Advertising
Seiniger's move to Los Angeles marked the start of his independent venture, Seiniger Advertising. One of his early significant works was the poster for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” This led to the creation of the iconic “Jaws” poster, an adaptation of Roger Kastel’s painting from the book cover, which solidified his reputation in the industry.
His portfolio expanded to include campaigns for films such as “Eyes of Laura Mars,” “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Field of Dreams,” “Bull Durham,” “Poltergeist,” “Moonstruck,” “Risky Business,” “Teachers,” “The Breakfast Club,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Total Recall,” “The Firm,” “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” “Hook,” and “The Last Emperor.”
Award and Collaborations
In 1998, Seiniger received the Key Art Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also known for his collaboration with illustrator Drew Struzan. A post from the late Struzan’s Instagram highlighted how Seiniger discovered Struzan’s work on an Alice Cooper billboard and introduced him to Hollywood. “Tony’s insight put Drew on the road to greatness, for which Drew was forever grateful,” the post stated.
Family and Legacy
Seiniger is survived by his four daughters, Jillian, Heather, Sara, and Tamar; grandchildren Dylan, Rose, Alex, Georgia, and Josephine; and his longtime partner, Wriston. His contributions to movie marketing remain influential, leaving a lasting impact on how films are promoted.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/tony-seiniger-dead-poster-designer-1236750451/
