Michael C. Gross, American graphic designer, Died at 70

  Artists

Michael C. Gross was born on October 4, 1945, and died on November 16, 2015.

He was an American artist, designer, and film producer.

From 1970 to 1974, he art-directed National Lampoon magazine, and subsequently co-ran a design company.

In 1980 Michael started working in Hollywood, and is perhaps best remembered for designing the logo for the movie Ghostbusters, which was one of 11 films on which he served as producer or executive producer.

Michael was a designer for the 1968 Mexican Olympics, and he art-directed EYE magazine.

He was the art director of National Lampoon magazine.

Michael was hired in 1970, and his work first appeared in the eighth issue of the magazine, the “Nostalgia” issue, which was published in November 1970.

His most famous National Lampoon piece was the cover for the January 1973 “Death” issue.

Michael created “If You Don’t Buy This Magazine, We’ll Kill This Dog” (for an image of this cover, see the National Lampoon article).

He left National Lampoon in 1974, and formed Pellegrini, Kaestle, & Gross, Inc.

Michael became the personal designer for John Lennon, as well as being a consultant to the Muppets.

In the late 1970s, Michael art directed Esquire magazine and was also design director for Mobil Oil.

In 1980, Michael moved to California, where he worked as a producer or an executive producer on 11 films, including Heavy Metal, Ghostbusters (he designed the “no ghosts” logo, which can be seen in the Ghostbusters article), Ghostbusters II, Twins, Beethoven, Legal Eagles, Kindergarten Cop and Dave.

Michael was also the producer for 5 television shows, including The Real Ghostbusters and Beethoven.

In 1995 Michael left Hollywood. He went back to painting, one of his first interests, and moved to Italy.

Michael subsequently had cancer and survived. He lived in Oceanside, California.

He was a painter, photographer and museum curator, who gave lectures and teaches.

Michael Gross passed away on November 16, 2015 in Oceanside, California from cancer at the age of 70.