Michael C. Gross

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

The 1960s
Gross was a designer for the 1968 Mexican Olympics, and he art-directed EYE magazine.

National Lampoon magazine
Gross was the art director of National Lampoon magazine. He 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. He created "If You Don't Buy This Magazine, We'll Kill This Dog" (for an image of this cover see the National Lampoon article).

Design company
Gross left National Lampoon in 1974, and formed Pellegrini, Kaestle, & Gross, Inc. He became the personal designer for John Lennon, as well as being a consultant to the Muppets. In the late 1970s he art directed Esquire magazine and was also design director for Mobil Oil.

Movie work
In 1980, Gross moved to California, where he worked as 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 Eagle, Kindergarten Cop and Dave. He was also the producer for 5 television shows, including The Real Ghostbusters and Beethoven.

After 1995
In 1995 Gross left Hollywood. He went back to painting, one of his first interests, and moved to Italy. He subsequently had cancer and survived. He lives in Oceanside, California. He is a painter, photographer and museum curator, who gives lectures and teaches.