Michael Gross, the man responsible for the famous "Ghostbusters" logo from the comedy classics, has died. He was 70.

Gross was a designer and producer whose eclectic career spanned decades and different mediums. In the early 1970s, he worked as an art director designing covers for National Lampoon magazine, and was responsible for one of the publication's most famous images, featuring a dog with a gun pointed at its head and the slogan, "If you don't buy this magazine we'll kill this dog." He also did some freelance design work for John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

While working for National Lampoon, Gross made many famous friends, and followed his pals Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd to Los Angeles in 1979, where they eventually collaborated on 1984's "Ghostbusters," Gross's second film. It was for that flick that Gross designed the logo, called No Ghosts, which became synonymous with the series and an iconic image known throughout the world.

Gross continued his career as a film producer (he also dabbled in production design), and was behind several more hits, including "Ghostbusters" movie and TV spinoffs, and the films "Legal Eagles," "Twins," "Kindergarten Cop," "Beethoven," and "Dave." He retired from the movie business in 1995.

Gross passed away at his California home on Monday after a long battle with cancer. He is survived by a daughter, a son, and three grandchildren.

[via: Los Angeles Times]

Photo credit: Associated Press