Douglas Kirkland Dies: Iconic Photographer Of Celebrities, Film Shoots Was 88
05.10.2022 - 05:29
/ deadline.com
Douglas Kirkland — whose celebrity portraits became nearly as iconic as the celebrities themselves, and whose photographs document some of the most important film shoots in Hollywood history — died Monday at his home in Los Angeles of natural causes. He was 88.
Kirkland made portraits of the biggest stars of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Mick Jagger, Andy Warhol, Elizabeth Taylor, Charlie Chaplin, Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brigitte Bardot.
He was the special photographer on more than 100 films including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Sound of Music, Sophie’s Choice, The Last Picture Show, Fiddler on the Roof, McCabe and Mrs. Miller, Saturday Night Fever, Alien, Midnight Run, Rain Man, The Great Gatsby, Out of Africa, Titanic and Moulin Rouge!
Kirkland never worked as an official unit photographer. His work on those films was mainly for publications such as Look and Life magazines.
“It was a time when the unit photographers were generally shooting black-and-white with Rolleis and just one focal length,” he once explained to American Cinematographer magazine. “There was a certain kind of photo the studios wanted, but they couldn’t get dramatic effects or really capture the essence and the look of a film,” but that’s what the glossy magazines wanted.
In 2011, Kirkland was honored with the ASC’s Presidents Award in recognition of his contributions to advancing the art of filmmaking. He also has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Operating Cameramen (S.O.C.).
“Douglas is a special talent, especially in terms of his amazing portraiture,” said Richard Crudo, ASC, chairman of the Society’s Awards