The illustrator of the James Bond poster was 99

The painter and illustrator Robert E. McGinnis, who created sexy posters for the James Bond franchise as well as many other films, illustrations of magazines and books of books, died on March 10 in Old Greenwich, Conn. He was 99 years old.

McGinnis, whose death was published on Legacy.com, was known for its images of pin-up style of pinep-ups of women in bikini consorting with virile men. Models such as Shere Hite, author of “The Hite Report”, modeled for the idealized figure which has become known as “The McGinnis Woman”.

His first film poster was for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, featuring the illustration of Audrey Hepburn smoking a cigarette in a long holder with her chat rolled around her neck. He used his wife and family cat as models. “You didn’t have to do much with her. She is so perfect,” he said about Hepburn.

The posters designed by McGinnis designed for James Bond films included “Thunderball”, “You Only Live Twice”, “On the secret services of His Majesty”, “Casino Royale”, “Diamants Are Forever” and “Live and Let Die” helped to cement the reputation of the franchise to present beautiful women Packed backgrounds.

Among its other notable posters, there was “The Odd Couple”, “The Wrecking Crew”, “The Pink Panther”, “Barbarella”, “Sleeper” and more recently, “The Incredibles”. McGinnis also designed titles for 1965 western “The Hallelujah Trail”.

Known as Bob, McGinnis was raised in Wyoming, Ohio. Despite a limited vision in an eye, he became an apprentice at the Walt Disney studios when he was still a teenager. After serving in the army and attended the art school, he worked in advertising and began to draw books of books for Dell. He worked on pulp style blankets for many famous authors, including Donald Westlake and Erle Stanley Gardner.

McGinnis then illustrated magazine Spreads for dozens of publications, including the Saturday Evening Post, National Geographic and Reader’s Digest.

He is survived by children Melinda, Laurie and Kyle, three grandchildren and a brother, David McGinnis.