kids encyclopedia robot

Allen Daviau facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Allen Daviau
Deyellspielbergdaviau (cropped).jpg
Born
John Allen Daviau

(1942-06-14)June 14, 1942
Died April 15, 2020(2020-04-15) (aged 77)
Occupation Cinematographer
Years active 1967–2010
Relatives
  • Anne Rice (cousin)
  • Alice Borchardt (cousin)

John Allen Daviau (June 14, 1942 – April 15, 2020) was an American cinematographer known for his collaborations with Steven Spielberg on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), The Color Purple (1985), and Empire of the Sun (1987). He received five Academy Award nominations and two British Academy Film Award nominations, with one win. In addition to his work in film, Daviau served as Cinematographer-in-Residence at UCLA.

Career

Daviau was born on June 14, 1942, in New Orleans, and raised in Los Angeles. He graduated from Loyola High School in 1960.

He was introduced to Steven Spielberg in the late 1960s and the two went on to work together on two early short films. They continued their professional working career by collaborating on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982); "Kick the Can," a segment from Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983), The Color Purple (1985), an episode of the NBC anthology series Amazing Stories titled "Ghost Train" (1985), and Empire of the Sun (1987).

Daviau's work also includes John Schlesinger's The Falcon and the Snowman (1985), the Spielberg-produced Harry and the Hendersons (1987), Albert Brooks' Defending Your Life (1991), Barry Levinson's Avalon (1990) and Bugsy (1991), Peter Weir's Fearless (1993), Frank Marshall's Congo (1995), Rand Ravich's The Astronaut's Wife (1999) and Stephen Sommers' Van Helsing (2004), his final feature.

He received lifetime achievement awards from the Art Directors Guild in 1997 and the American Society of Cinematographers in 2007.

Daviau shot thousands of commercials, documentaries, industrials and educational films, and created psychedelic special-effects lighting for Roger Corman's The Trip (1967) before he gained entry into the International Photographers Guild.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

While doing a lawnmower commercial in Arizona, Daviau learned that Spielberg was looking for a cinematographer for E.T. and sent the director a tape of The Boy Who Drank Too Much, a 1980 telefilm that he shot. "It had a lot of mood, and it's about kids, so I knew Steven would watch it!" Daviau said. Spielberg stated that he contacted Daviau for his next feature, saying, "I did something I rarely do. I didn't think twice; I picked up the phone and asked Allen if he would photograph my next feature."

Personal life and death

Following a surgical procedure in 2012, Daviau was confined to a wheelchair. He died on April 15, 2020, at the age of 77, as a result of complications from COVID-19 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital.

Filmography

Short films

Year Title Director Notes
1968 Amblin' Steven Spielberg
1971 Mooch Goes to Hollywood Richard Erdman
1983 Kick the Can Steven Spielberg Segments of Twilight Zone: The Movie
It's a Good Life Joe Dante

Film

Year Title Director Notes
1974 The Brothers O'Toole Richard Erdman
1982 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Steven Spielberg
1985 The Color Purple
The Falcon and the Snowman John Schlesinger
1987 Empire of the Sun Steven Spielberg
Harry and the Hendersons William Dear
1990 Avalon Barry Levinson
1991 Bugsy
Defending Your Life Albert Brooks
1993 Fearless Peter Weir
1995 Congo Frank Marshall
1999 The Astronaut's Wife Rand Ravich
2000 The Tigger Movie Jun Falkenstein Animated feature
2004 Van Helsing Stephen Sommers

Television

Year Title Director Notes
1974 Mooch Richard Erdman TV movie
1979 The Streets of L.A. Jerrold Freedman
1980 The Boy Who Drank Too Much
Rage! William Graham
1982 McDonaldland Lee Chapman Episode "Skating"
1983 Legs Jerrold Freedman TV movie
1985 Amazing Stories Steven Spielberg Episode "Ghost Train"
1996 International Cinematographer's
Guild Heritage Series
Jay Nefcy Episode "Vittorio Storaro"

Awards and nominations

Academy Awards

Year Title Category Result
1982 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Best Cinematography Nominated
1985 The Color Purple Nominated
1987 Empire of the Sun Nominated
1990 Avalon Nominated
1991 Bugsy Nominated

BAFTA Awards

Year Title Category Result
1982 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Best Cinematography Nominated
1987 Empire of the Sun Won

American Society of Cinematographers

Year Title Category Result
1987 Empire of the Sun Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography Won
1990 Avalon Nominated
1991 Bugsy Won

Other awards

Year Title Award Result
1982 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography Won
1987 Empire of the Sun New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cinematography Nominated
1991 Bugsy Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography Nominated
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Allen Daviau para niños

kids search engine
Allen Daviau Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.