RIP: Robert McGinnis

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It has been announced the Robert McGinnis died on March 10, 2025.  Mr. McGinnis was 99.

As a teenager, Robert McGinnis worked as an apprentice at Walt Disney Studios.  During World War II, Mr. McGinnis served in the Merchant Marines.

Robert McGinnis was an artist whose work appeared on over 1200 book covers, over 40 film posters as well as magazine and record album covers.

Mr. McGinnis is perhaps best known for the posters and art that he created for James Bond movies.  Robert McGinnis created the art for Thunderball; You Only Live Twice; On Her Majesty’s Secret Service; Diamonds Are Forever; Live and Let Die and The Man with the Golden Gun.  Others films Mr. McGinnis created posters for include Breakfast at Tiffany’s; How to Steal a Million; The Odd Couple; Barbarella; Duck You Sucker!; Sleeper and Gator.

In 1958, Robert McGinnis began creating covers for Dell Publishing.  Although probably best known for his work on Gold Medal paperback crime/noir novels, Mr. McGinnis’ art could be found on covers for books in genres such as Detective, Mystery, Gothic, Historical Fiction as well as Romance and Fantasy.  In 2004, Robert McGinnis began doing covers for Hard Case Crime. Mr. McGinnis’ art could also be found in magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post, National Geographic, Reader’s Digest, Good Housekeeping, McCall’s and Guideposts.

Some of the album covers featuring Robert McGinnis art include Casino Royale (Soundtrack); Barbarella (Soundtrack); Tommy Steele – Half A Sixpence (Soundtrack); On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (Soundtrack); Sweet Charity (Soundtrack); Cotton Comes to Harlem (Soundtrack); Diamonds are Forever (Soundtrack); Come Back Charleston Blue (Soundtrack); Ennio Morricone – Giù La Testa; The Optimists Orchestra (Soundtrack); Live and Let Die (Soundtrack); The Man with the Golden Gun (Soundtrack); Bingo Long and Traveling All Stars and Motor Kings (Soundtrack); Gator (Soundtrack); Semi-Tough (Soundtrack); The Jigsaw Seen – Songs Mama Used To Sing; The Day of the Dolphin (Soundtrack) and Scorpio (Soundtrack).

In 1985, Robert McGinnis was named Romantic Artist of the Year by the Romantic Times magazine.  In 1993, Mr. McGinnis was inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame.

Robert McGinnis was one of my favorite artists.  His pulp covers are classics.  Of course the same could be said for his movie posters, magazine illustrations and well, just about anything he created.  I think it’s time to revisit my Art of Robert McGinnis book and search out Robert McGinnis: Painting the Last Rose of Summer the documentary of his life and art by Paul Jilbert.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and fans of Robert McGinnis.