Greg Hildebrandt died on October 31, 2024, at the age of 85. Best known for the luminous fantasy paintings he created with his identical twin, Tim Hildebrandt, Greg helped shape the visual culture of modern fantasy through Tolkien calendars, the 1977 Star Wars “Style B” poster, Marvel trading cards, comic-book work, and fantasy illustration.
A family-linked obituary recorded his birth in Detroit, Michigan, on January 23, 1939, and identified his wife and artistic muse, Jean Scrocco, along with his children and other family members among his survivors. The obituary did not give a medically specific cause of death, and no definitive cause should be assumed.
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The artist behind one of the most recognizable Star Wars posters
For many viewers, Greg Hildebrandt’s most familiar image is the blue illustrated poster created with Tim for the original 1977 Star Wars film. The brothers produced the artwork in approximately 36 hours, according to Lucasfilm, during the film’s early marketing campaign.
The poster is often casually called the “original Star Wars poster,” but that description is incomplete. Hildebrandt’s design was the film’s “Style B” poster, associated particularly with the United Kingdom release. Tom Jung created the U.S. “Style A” poster. Both were official 1977 designs, but they are different works.
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The Hildebrandt composition is immediately identifiable: Luke Skywalker raises a lightsaber above his head, Princess Leia aims a blaster, C-3PO and R2-D2 stand below, and Darth Vader’s enormous mask dominates the upper portion of the image. The Death Star, starfighters, and a field of stars complete the densely packed scene. Its dramatic scale and saturated blue palette made it especially effective as both film advertising and a piece of fantasy-oriented wall art.
That poster became closely associated with the first Star Wars phenomenon and was used extensively in marketing and merchandising. It also introduced a visual approach that appeared throughout the brothers’ work: heroic figures, theatrical lighting, intense color, and a composition designed to make a fictional world feel larger than the frame containing it.
Greg and Tim Hildebrandt: a partnership, not a single artistic identity
Greg and Tim worked for many years as the Brothers Hildebrandt. Their partnership became one of the defining fantasy-illustration collaborations of the late 20th century, producing book illustrations, calendars, posters, comic-related art, trading cards, and advertising images.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe brothers’ work is recognizable for its polished surfaces and carefully controlled light. Characters frequently appear in heroic or mythic poses, while the surrounding environments are filled with architectural, historical, or fantastical detail. Their paintings could function as illustrations of a particular story, but they also encouraged viewers to imagine the larger world beyond the scene.
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It is important, however, not to treat Greg and Tim as interchangeable. Many works were jointly credited to the Brothers Hildebrandt, while Greg also pursued solo projects. A particular painting, cover, card, or comic should be checked individually rather than automatically attributed to Greg alone—or to both brothers.
Tim Hildebrandt died in 2006. Greg’s family obituary also noted the earlier death of his daughter Laura. Greg was survived by Jean Scrocco, whom the obituary described as his wife and artistic muse, as well as his children and other family members.
The Tolkien calendars that established their reputation
Before the Star Wars poster made them famous to a mass film audience, the Brothers Hildebrandt had already built an international reputation through their Tolkien-related work. Their 1976, 1977, and 1978 calendars depicting J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings were a major breakthrough.
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The calendars gave fantasy readers a recurring visual interpretation of Middle-earth at a time when illustrated fantasy publishing and merchandising were expanding rapidly. Their paintings presented Tolkien’s characters and settings with a combination of radiant color, romantic atmosphere, and elaborate detail that became widely recognizable among readers.
The Tolkien assignments also demonstrate why the brothers mattered beyond any one franchise. They were not merely producing promotional images; they were helping define how audiences imagined fantasy worlds. Their work circulated in calendars, books, covers, posters, and reproductions, reaching people who might never have encountered a gallery exhibition or a traditional fine-art publication.
The 1979 book The Art of the Brothers Hildebrandt, published by Ballantine Books, collected extensive examples of their fantasy art. Readers looking for a broad introduction may find The Art of the Brothers Hildebrandt book through used-book sellers or collectible-book marketplaces; edition, condition, and current availability can vary.
His later return to Star Wars
The Hildebrandts returned to the Star Wars universe in 1996 for the Shadows of the Empire multimedia campaign. Lucasfilm reports that they created 100 new pieces of artwork for the story. The images were published as a card series and an art book, extending their relationship with the franchise well beyond the 1977 poster.
The brothers later contributed to The Phantom Menace through the Star Wars Great Big Flap Book. Greg also created artwork for Star Wars-branded Oreo packaging, an example of how his recognizable style continued to appear in franchise licensing and commercial art. The available account does not establish the exact packaging release date or the commercial terms of that project.
Marvel Masterpieces and comic-book illustration
Greg Hildebrandt’s career also reached deeply into Marvel publishing and collectibles. Marvel’s creator records credit him on multiple comics and covers, including Wolverine #90 and Marvel Illustrated: Treasure Island, among other Marvel-related publications.
One of the most substantial Marvel projects associated with Greg and Tim was the 1994 Marvel Masterpieces III trading-card set. Marvel described the set as containing more than 150 painted illustrations by the brothers. The artwork was later reused for variant comic-book covers, giving the paintings a life beyond the original card release.
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For collectors, the significance of Marvel Masterpieces III lies partly in the way it treated trading-card art as a serious illustration format. The cards were not simply small images attached to a game or checklist; they presented polished, finished paintings of Marvel characters in a coherent visual style. A Marvel-focused collection such as The Marvel Art of the Brothers Hildebrandt can be a useful route for readers interested in that phase of their work, subject to edition and availability checks.
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Hildebrandt also contributed artwork to Magic: The Gathering. Specialist card databases record many cards credited to Greg, although the exact total can differ depending on whether a database counts reprints, collaborations, alternate versions, or special sheets. It is more accurate to say that he contributed to many Magic: The Gathering cards than to rely on one unqualified card count.
That work places Hildebrandt within a broader history of fantasy illustration in which paintings moved fluidly between books, posters, cards, packaging, comics, and games. Collectors may encounter Greg’s name on individual cards, while other items are credited to the Brothers Hildebrandt. The distinction matters when establishing provenance or deciding what a particular artist contributed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Greg Hildebrandt leaves behind
Greg Hildebrandt’s legacy is larger than the poster that made his name familiar to generations of Star Wars fans. With Tim, he helped popularize a lush, highly finished style of fantasy art that could communicate story, character, and atmosphere in a single image.
His career crossed several audiences: Tolkien readers encountered the brothers through calendars and art books; filmgoers saw their work in Star Wars marketing; comic fans found it on Marvel covers and publications; and collectors encountered it on trading cards, game cards, and licensed packaging.
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Remembering him accurately means holding two facts together. The Brothers Hildebrandt were a major collaborative force, and Greg Hildebrandt also had a distinct solo career. The best-known images should be credited with care, especially when an artwork was jointly produced. But whether a work bears Greg’s name alone or the brothers’ shared credit, the visual qualities that made it memorable—light, color, scale, and an instinct for mythic spectacle—remain central to his contribution to fantasy illustration.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Greg Hildebrandt die?
Greg Hildebrandt died on October 31, 2024, at age 85.
What was Greg Hildebrandt best known for?
He was best known for working with his twin brother Tim as the Brothers Hildebrandt, including their Tolkien calendars and the 1977 Star Wars “Style B” poster. He also created or contributed to Marvel art, trading cards, Magic: The Gathering cards, books, posters, and advertising work.
Did Greg Hildebrandt create the original Star Wars poster?
He and Tim Hildebrandt created the official 1977 “Style B” Star Wars poster, associated particularly with the United Kingdom release. Tom Jung created the U.S. “Style A” poster, so calling the Hildebrandt design simply “the original Star Wars poster” can be misleading.
What was Greg Hildebrandt’s cause of death?
The family-linked obituary confirms his death and age but does not provide a medically specific cause of death. A definitive cause should not be stated without a reliable source.
The Bottom Line
Greg Hildebrandt, who died October 31, 2024, at 85, helped define modern fantasy imagery through a career spanning Tolkien, Star Wars, Marvel, trading cards, games, and commercial illustration. His most enduring work was created with Tim, but his individual career and influence stand on their own.
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