Joe Caroff, the graphic designer behind the iconic 007 gun logo and many classic film posters, has died at the age of 103. He passed away on Sunday at his home in Manhattan, one day before his 104th birthday, under hospice care.
Caroff's work includes posters for films such as West Side Story, A Hard Day's Night, Last Tango in Paris, Cabaret, Manhattan and The Last Temptation of Christ. He worked on more than 300 campaigns but often remained uncredited.
His first major commission was the poster for West Side Story in 1961, where he scuffed the lettering to suggest brickwork and added fire escapes and dancers. He later designed the 007 logo for the first James Bond film, Dr No, in 1962. Caroff extended the stem of the seven to resemble a gun barrel, inspired by Ian Fleming's Walther PPK. He was paid $300 with no residuals or royalties.
Other notable posters include A Fistful of Dollars, Rollerball and Gandhi. He also created title sequences for films including A Bridge Too Far and The Last Temptation of Christ. Caroff said he sought 'effervescence' in his work, wanting it to have life and not lie flat.
