Along with his twin brother, Tim, Greg Hildebrandt gained fame for their work in fantasy and science fiction art, including iconic illustrations for Lord of the Rings calendars in the 1970s and the legendary Star Wars promotional poster. Beyond their collaboration, Greg pursued a prolific, personal artistic path. In 1999, he launched American Beauties, a retro pinup series inspired by 1940s–50s glamour but infused with his own unique flair. Drawing on childhood memories and classic pinup masters, Greg reimagined the genre with vibrant, narrative compositions. The series’ success led to gallery shows, merchandise, and even original nose art commissions on five WWII aircraft.
Greg Hildebrandt was born on January 23, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan, alongside his identical twin brother, Tim. From an early age, the two showed a passion for art, inspired by comic books, Disney animation, and fantasy literature. Though mostly self-taught, they attended a six-month program at the Meinzinger Art School in Detroit at age 18. Early in their careers, they worked on industrial training films for the Jam Handy Organization, earning recognition when a project they contributed to won the Golden Eagle award. In the 1960s, they relocated to New York City to create art for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s television program and documentaries on world hunger, experiences that profoundly impacted both brothers.
In 1975, Greg and Tim’s careers skyrocketed when Ballantine Books selected them to illustrate the official J.R.R. Tolkien Lord of the Rings calendars for 1976–1978. The paintings they created for the trilogy became instant classics in fantasy art and introduced them to a global audience. Their growing reputation caught the attention of George Lucas, who commissioned them in 1977 to design an early promotional poster for Star Wars — a piece that has since become legendary in cinema history. Riding this momentum, they had another film poster commission, for the Greek mythological heroic fantasy film Clash of the Titans. Together, the brothers developed a concept for a fantasy movie, Urshurak; although this never went into production, the Hildebrandts collaborated with author Jerry Nichols to publish Urshurak in the form of an illustrated fantasy novel in 1979.
The lack of success with Urshurak may have contributed to their decision to work independently of each other, and in 1981 the brothers began to pursue separate careers. Greg painted cover artwork for the magazines Omni and Heavy Metal, and illustrated a number of books including Mary Stewart’s Merlin Trilogy, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Aladdin, Robin Hood, Dracula, and The Phantom of the Opera. After over a decade apart, they reunited in 1994 to create the Fleer Marvel Masterpieces trading card set, a 158-card collection that was widely praised and exhibited in New York.
Outside of his collaborative work with his brother, Greg Hildebrandt has followed a prolific and deeply personal artistic journey. In 1999, he launched American Beauties, a retro-style pinup series inspired by the glamour of the 1940s and 1950s, yet infused with his own distinctive flair. Drawing on childhood memories and the influence of classic pinup masters, Greg reimagined the genre with vibrant, narrative-driven compositions. The series became a success, leading to gallery exhibitions, a merchandise line, and even original nose art commissions on five WWII aircraft.
Greg has always pushed the boundaries of his creativity. In 2003, he began an artistic partnership with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, serving as the exclusive illustrator for the band’s dramatic stage visuals and album art. This collaboration, built on mutual admiration with bandleader Paul O’Neill, echoed the creative synergy Greg once shared with Tim. In 2015, Greg returned to the comic book world, producing covers for Marvel Comics — including new pieces for the Star Wars franchise that had helped define his early success.
Continuing his artistic evolution, Greg launched a series titled Kid Stuff, in which he portrays aged, timeworn versions of his childhood toys, using the imagery to explore memory, decay, and the passage of time.
Greg Hildebrandt passed away on October 31, 2024, at the age of 85, in Denville, New Jersey, USA.
In 1963, Greg moved to New York to work for The Propagation of the Faith, under Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, for whom he began making documentary films chronicling world hunger and creating art for his weekly television series “Life is Worth Living.”
Greg’s travels to South America and Africa while making documentaries on world hunger were an eye-opening experience. This began his life-long passion for human rights and activism.
Shortly after parting ways with the Catholic Church, Greg began having a series of dreams that would inspire some of his most iconic and deeply personal works. One of these dream images was seen by the Heavy Metal band, Black Sabbath and then licensed for the cover of their album “Mob Rules” Imagine FX magazine voted this cover the best heavy metal album cover of all time.
Greg married Diana F. Stankowski in 1963, with whom he had three children; she also modeled for their Star Wars poster. Later, he shared a long creative and personal partnership with Jean Scrocco, whom he married in 2009.
Greg remained actively engaged with art until his death in 2024, leaving behind a legacy of imagination, integrity, and enduring visual storytelling.
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