Ron Galella facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ron Galella
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Galella in 2010
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| Born |
Ronald Edward Galella
January 10, 1931 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | April 30, 2022 (aged 91) Montville, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Paparazzo Extraordinaire |
| Occupation | Celebrity photographer |
| Spouse(s) |
Betty Lou Burke
(m. 1979; d. 2017) |
Ronald Edward Galella (born January 10, 1931 – died April 30, 2022) was an American photographer. He became famous as a pioneer paparazzo. A paparazzo is a photographer who takes pictures of famous people, often without them knowing.
Newsweek magazine called him "Paparazzo Extraordinaire." Time and Vanity Fair magazines called him "the Godfather of the U.S. paparazzi culture." Harper's Bazaar said he was "arguably the most controversial paparazzo of all time."
Ron Galella took many photos of celebrities when they were not on stage or in movies. He was known for his disagreements with some famous people. These included Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Marlon Brando.
Even with some arguments, Galella's photos were shown in art galleries around the world. The famous artist Andy Warhol said Galella was his favorite photographer. During his career, Galella took more than three million photos of public figures.
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Early Life and Photography Beginnings
Ron Galella was born in New York City on January 10, 1931. His father, Vincenzo, came from Italy and made pianos and coffins. His mother, Michelina, was born in New Jersey and worked with crochet beads.
After high school, Ron won a scholarship to the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. But he decided not to go because he struggled with math.
Galella served as a photographer in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1955. This included time during the Korean War. Later, he went to the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, California. He earned a degree in photojournalism in 1958.
In his free time, Galella took pictures of stars arriving at movie premieres. He sold these photos to magazines like National Enquirer and Photoplay. He soon became known for his special way of taking pictures. He showed famous people in their everyday lives, not just on stage.
Ron Galella's Career Highlights
Galella's photographs appeared in many famous magazines. These include Time, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Vanity Fair, and People. His photos were also in Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Life.
Galella made his own prints in his home darkroom. These prints were shown in museums and galleries worldwide. Some of these places include the MoMA in New York City. His work was also shown at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Tate Modern in London.
In 2009, his father's hometown in Italy, Muro Lucano, made Galella an honorary citizen. This means they recognized him as a special member of their community.
A documentary film about him, called Smash His Camera, came out in 2010. The film's title comes from something Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis once said. She told her security agent to "smash his camera" after Galella photographed her and her children. The movie won an award at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
Personal Life
Ron Galella married Betty Lou Burke in 1979. She worked as a photo editor and later became his business partner. They were married until Betty Lou passed away on January 9, 2017. She was 68 years old.
Galella spoke lovingly about his wife. He said he fell in love with her voice when she bought his photos over the phone. He met her in person two years later at the Kennedy Center. He said, "With one look at that beautiful girl, I said, 'I'm gonna marry you.'" They got married five months later and became a team.
After he stopped being a full-time paparazzo, Galella continued to take photos at important cultural events. He lived in Montville, New Jersey, in his later years.
Ron Galella died at his home in Montville, New Jersey, on April 30, 2022. He was 91 years old.
Exhibits of Ron Galella's Work
Ron Galella's photographs have been shown in many galleries and museums. Here are some of the places where his work was exhibited:
- MoMA in New York City
- Tate Modern in London, England
- Helmut Newton Foundation Museum of Photography in Berlin, Germany
- C/O Berlin in Berlin, Germany
- Musée de l'Elysée in Lausanne, Switzerland
- Schirn Kunsthalle in Frankfurt, Germany
- Albertina in Vienna, Austria
- Fotomuseum Winterthur in Switzerland
- Centre Pompidou in Metz, France
- Foam Fotografiemuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin, Ireland
- Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, PA
See also
In Spanish: Ron Galella para niños
