Five-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer, Owen Roizman , famous for film classics from The Exorcist to The French Connection is dead at 86. His passing follows a long battle with an unnamed health issue.
Joining The Board Of Governors
Roizman had a long and impactful career as he sat on the Academy’s Board of Governors’ representing the cinematography branch and earned five nominations for his work.
Five Oscar Nominations
Roizman’s most famous works include The Exorcist, The French Connection, Network, and Tootsie. The first three earned him nominations for Best Cinematography at the Academy Awards in the Seventies.
Tootsie earned him another in the Eighties, and Wyatt Earp earned his final nomination in 1994.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Despite losing his Academy Award nominations, Roizman received five Lifetime Achievement Awards from other bodies and the Academy before his death on January 6, 2023.
A Widespread Career
Roizman’s career spanned several genres from thrillers to comedy, Western and horror, cue the scariest movie of all time, The Exorcist.
Collaborating With The Greats
Roizman worked with many of his peers during his lifetime, including industry heavyweights Sydney Pollack whom he worked with five times, and William Friedkin, with whom he shot The French Connection and The Exorcist .
Learned From His Father
Roizman learned most of what he knew from his father, Sol Roizman, a cameraman for the famous MovieTone. Becoming a cinematographer was a no-brainer despite excelling at physics and mathematics as a child.
First Years In Hollywood
When Roizman first joined Hollywood, he was an assistant cinematographer to the legendary Gerald Hirshfield.
Survived By His Wife And Son
The late cinematographer left behind his wife, Mona Lindholm and their son, Eric, who also became a camera operator.
Diversifying Into Commercials
After his robust career in Hollywood, Roizman diversified and started a commercials company, Roizman & Associates.
Great With TV Specials
His work extends beyond movie cinematography and commercials to TV specials including the much-talked-about Liza with a Z featuring Liza Minelli.
Making Music Videos
He shot two music videos, Crazy for You and Gambler for pop icon Madonna in the Eighties proving his talents knew no bounds.
The Internet Mourns
Social media mourns Roizman’s loss of colleagues and fans. Christopher McQuarrie added that the late cinematographer had so many credits that a tweet couldn’t encompass.
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A Trailblazer For Seventies Cinema
A fan added that Roizman’s work is the best depiction of Seventies cinema anyone would ever get.
Preparing His Memorial
The American Cinematography Association is preparing a memorial and will alert concerned parties once it’s finalized.