James Bond star, Joe Caroff has died at the age of 103, his sons have confirmed.
The graphic designer was known for creating the iconic 007 gun logo and worked on the film posters for West Side Story and The Beatles’ hit movie, A Hard Day’s Night.
Joe’s sons, Michael and Peter, told The New York Times that the star di£d in hospice care at his Manhattan home on Sunday, August 17, a day before his 104th birthday.
Back in 1962, Joe was tasked with creating a letterhead for a publicity release for Dr. No – the first Bond film. Joe also worked on Last Tango in Paris, Manhattan, Cabaret and many more iconic projects.
His name remained unknown for many years despite his work being extremely recognisable.
“That he was unknown is shocking,” co-chairman emeritus of the Master of Fine Arts Design program at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, Mr. Heller, said in a recent interview.
Despite creating the legendary logo, the family were “never paid any royalties”. It was said the rate for a letterhead logo was $300 at the time, without film credits or profit-sharing.
“It was like a little publicity piece for me,” Joe Caroff said.
“My only regrets are that they never paid any royalties for any of these things that were done in those days,” Joe’s wife, Phyllis Caroff added in the documentary. “We would have been rich.”
Joe revealed he never saved the original sketches and renders over the years. “Probably not a smart thing to do, but I never attached what I was doing to any greatness,” he admitted.
“I was just working, period. I was just being an artist.”
EON Productions and former franchise bosses Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson gave Joe Caroff an Omega watch with a 007 engraving for his 100th birthday.
The graphic designer was known for creating the iconic 007 gun logo and worked on the film posters for West Side Story and The Beatles’ hit movie, A Hard Day’s Night.
Joe’s sons, Michael and Peter, told The New York Times that the star di£d in hospice care at his Manhattan home on Sunday, August 17, a day before his 104th birthday.
Back in 1962, Joe was tasked with creating a letterhead for a publicity release for Dr. No – the first Bond film. Joe also worked on Last Tango in Paris, Manhattan, Cabaret and many more iconic projects.
His name remained unknown for many years despite his work being extremely recognisable.
“That he was unknown is shocking,” co-chairman emeritus of the Master of Fine Arts Design program at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, Mr. Heller, said in a recent interview.
Despite creating the legendary logo, the family were “never paid any royalties”. It was said the rate for a letterhead logo was $300 at the time, without film credits or profit-sharing.
“It was like a little publicity piece for me,” Joe Caroff said.
“My only regrets are that they never paid any royalties for any of these things that were done in those days,” Joe’s wife, Phyllis Caroff added in the documentary. “We would have been rich.”
Joe revealed he never saved the original sketches and renders over the years. “Probably not a smart thing to do, but I never attached what I was doing to any greatness,” he admitted.
“I was just working, period. I was just being an artist.”
EON Productions and former franchise bosses Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson gave Joe Caroff an Omega watch with a 007 engraving for his 100th birthday.
