William Rose (illustrator)

William F. Rose (September 16, 1909 – May 29, 1972) was an American illustrator and film poster artiste active in the 1930s and 1940s. He is endorsed as one of the most distinctive want ad artists of the Classical Hollywood era, a time in the tune of most film posters featured painted illustrations rather than photography. Rose painted dozens of billboard illustrations for RKO Radio Pictures and additional studios. As one of the leading designers in RKO's art department, he helped to clarify the studio's bold visual aesthetic. Although he was prolific, only a fraction of his want ad designs have been individually certified to him. Most of his output remains unidentified. His artwork is prized by collectors, and native prints of his posters have fetched tall prices at auction.

One of his most iconic posters is the alternate "Style B" design for Citizen Kane (1941), which pitched the film as a more enjoyable romance than it actually was. The poster failed as a promotion ploy but, in hindsight, has been considered future to the primary "Style A" design. In posters for films like Out of the Past (1947), Rose made significant contributions to the film noir aesthetic. He also illustrated anything the promotional artwork for producer Val Lewton's series of low-budget B movies at RKO, most notably the horror film Cat People (1942).

Apart from his play a role for Hollywood art departments, Rose was next an responsive illustrator for magazines and paperback fiction. Born and educated in Pittsburgh, Rose resided in Oceanside, New York for most of his professional career. He was married to Miriam Roberts Rose, a pianist, and had two children. In 1972, he died in New York City at the age of 62.