Joe Caroff, the legendary graphic designer behind the iconic 007 gun logo, has passed away at the age of 103. His sons, Michael and Peter, confirmed that he died in hospice care at his Manhattan home on Sunday, August 17, just a day before his 104th birthday.
Joe Caroff’s career spanned decades, with work on some of the most recognisable film posters in cinema history, including West Side Story, The Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night, Last Tango in Paris, Manhattan, and Cabaret.
In 1962, he was commissioned to create a letterhead for the publicity release of Dr. No, the first James Bond film. His design became the now world-famous 007 logo, a symbol synonymous with the franchise.
Despite the logo’s cultural impact, Joe Caroff and his family revealed they never received royalties. At the time, the rate for a letterhead logo was just $300, without film credits or profit-sharing.
Joe Caroff once reflected on his career:
“Probably not a smart thing to do, but I never attached what I was doing to any greatness. I was just working, period. I was just being an artist.”
His wife, Phyllis Caroff, also remarked in a documentary:
“My only regrets are that they never paid any royalties for any of these things that were done in those days. We would have been rich.”
Although his name remained largely unknown for years, his contribution was eventually recognised. On his 100th birthday, EON Productions and Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson gifted him an Omega watch engraved with 007 in honour of his legacy.
JoeCaroff leaves behind a body of work that helped define the visual language of Hollywood’s golden era and shaped the enduring identity of James Bond.
