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John Bailey, the cinematographer whose credits include the Academy Award for Best Picture Ordinary people And The big thrill and became president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, died Friday in Los Angeles. He was 81 years old.
“It is with deep sadness that I share with you that my best friend and husband, John Bailey, passed away peacefully in his sleep early this morning,” said his wife Carol Littleton, an Academy Award-nominated film editor and former governor. of the Academy, in a press release. statement provided by AMPAS this evening. “During John’s illness, we remembered how we met 60 years ago and were married for 51 of those years. We shared a wonderful life of cinematic adventures and made many lasting friendships along the way. John will live forever in my heart.
In addition to Ordinary peopledirected by Robert Redford and which won four Academy Awards in 1981, Bailey’s resume included The Big Cold, Silverado, The Accidental Tourist, Groundhog Day, In the Crosshairs, As Good as It Gets, How to Lose a Man in 10 Days, The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants And Must love dogs over a career spanning five decades.
Bailey began his career as an assistant cameraman on the 1971 film. Two-lane black roof.
A member of the Academy’s filmmakers’ branch since 1981, Bailey served as an Academy governor for 15 years and president for two terms from 2017 to 2019. He was the first filmmaker to hold the position.
While at the Academy, he served as vice president and chairman of the Preservation and History Committee, representing AMPAS on the National Film Preservation Board of the Library of Congress. His committee work included the Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowships, Film and Fellowships, International Outreach, Science and Technology Council, Member Selection Committees and In Memoriam, as well as the former Executive Committee of the Prix du foreign language film.
“All of us at the Academy are deeply saddened to learn of John’s passing,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang. “John was a passionately committed member of the Academy and the film community. He served as our President and Academy Governor for many years and played a leadership role within the Filmmakers Branch. His impact and contributions to the film community will be forever remembered. Our thoughts and support are with Carol at this time.
Bailey was also a member of the American Society of Cinematographers, serving as secretary and vice president of its board of governors. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the ASC in February 2015.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Bailey’s memory to the Academy Foundation.