Owen Roizman facts for kids

Owen Roizman (born September 22, 1936 – died January 6, 2023) was a talented American cinematographer. A cinematographer is the person in charge of how a movie is filmed. They decide on the lighting, camera angles, and how the camera moves to tell the story.

Owen Roizman was nominated five times for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography. These nominations were for famous films like The French Connection (1971), The Exorcist (1973), Network (1976), Tootsie (1982), and Wyatt Earp (1994). He also received a special Academy Honorary Award in 2017 for his amazing work.

Besides his film work, he was part of the Board of Governors for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He also served as president of the American Society of Cinematographers.

Growing Up: Owen Roizman's Early Life

Owen Roizman grew up in Brooklyn, a part of New York City. When he was a kid, he dreamed of becoming a baseball player, a physicist, or a mathematician. He even had a tryout with the famous New York Yankees baseball team!

However, as a teenager, he got polio, an illness that affected his plans. His father, Sol, was a cameraman for Movietone News, which made short films for movie theaters. When Owen heard about how much money people could make in the film industry, he decided to go for it! He started working during summer breaks at a camera rental shop in New York City. Later, he became an assistant to another cinematographer named Gerald Hirschfeld.

Owen Roizman's Film Career

Owen Roizman started his career by making many television commercials. His first full-length movie was Stop in 1970.

Filming The French Connection

His second movie was The French Connection (1971), directed by William Friedkin. This film earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography. The French Connection became famous for its "gritty" style. This meant it looked very realistic, like real New York City streets, often using natural light. This style became a trademark for many of his later films.

More Famous Movies and Awards

Throughout the 1970s, Owen Roizman worked on many other popular movies. These included Play It Again, Sam (1972), The Heartbreak Kid (1972), and the horror classic The Exorcist (1973). He also filmed Three Days of the Condor (1975) and Network (1976). He received more Academy Award nominations for his work on The Exorcist and Network.

Later, he earned two more Academy Award nominations for Tootsie (1982) and Wyatt Earp (1994). His last film was French Kiss (1995).

Owen Roizman was known for working often with certain directors. These included William Friedkin, Sydney Pollack, and Lawrence Kasdan.

Leadership in Film

Beyond making movies, Owen Roizman was a leader in the film community. He was a member of the Board of Governors for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 2002 to 2011. This group is responsible for the Academy Awards. He was also a member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) and served as its president from 1997 to 1998. In 2017, he received a special Academy Honorary Award at the 9th Governors Awards ceremony, celebrating his long and important career.

Owen Roizman's Personal Life

Owen Roizman lived in the Encino area of Los Angeles with his wife, Mona. They had a son named Eric, who also followed in his father's footsteps and became a camera operator.

Owen Roizman passed away peacefully at his home on January 6, 2023, at the age of 86.

Key Films by Owen Roizman

Here are some of the notable films Owen Roizman worked on:

• Stop (1970)
• The French Connection (1971)
• The Exorcist (1973)
• Three Days of the Condor (1975)
• Network (1976)
• Absence of Malice (1981)
• Tootsie (1982)
• The Addams Family (1991)
• Grand Canyon (1991)
• Wyatt Earp (1994)
• French Kiss (1995)

Other Awards and Recognition

Owen Roizman received several other important awards for his contributions to cinematography:

• 1997: American Society of Cinematographers – Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2000: Palm Springs International Film Festival – Career Achievement Award
• 2001: Camerimage – Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2011: Ojai Film Festival – Lifetime Achievement Award

See also

In Spanish: Owen Roizman para niños