''E.T.'' ''BUGSY'' CINEMATOGRAPHER ALLEN DAVIAU DIES OF COVID-19 COMPLICATIONS
Apr 17, 2020
By Bob Komsic
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Allen Daviau, who shot three of Steven Spielberg’s films, has died of complications from COVID-19.
He was 77.
(American Society of Cinematographers)
A five-time Oscar nominee, Daviau was behind the camera for ”E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial,” ”Empire of the Sun,” ”The Color Purple” as well as ”Bugsy,” ”Avalon,” and ”Defending Your Life.”
Daviau said he became fascinated with the technology of light and photography after seeing colour television when he was 12, which led him to work in camera stores and film labs.
After Daviau ”gate-crashed” the set of Marlon Brando’s ”One-Eyed Jacks,” he shot early music videos for The Who and Jimi Hendrix and also shot still photos for the The Monkees.
He met Spielberg in 1967 when they discovered a shared love of movies.
(Alamy)
In a statement, Spielberg says ”Allen was a wonderful artist but his warmth and humanity were as powerful as his lens. He was a singular talent and a beautiful human being.”