Phil-Stern-Obituary

Phil Stern

1919 - 2014 (Age 95)

About

AGE
95

Obituary

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Phil Stern, an award-winning photographer who lugged his camera into combat during World War II and later became known for candid shots of Hollywood stars like Marlon Brando, has died. He was 95.

Stern died Saturday in Los Angeles after being hospitalized, said David Fahey, co-owner of the Fahey/Klein Gallery that displayed the photographer's work for decades. Stern, a longtime smoker, had emphysema, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Stern, who shot for Life, Look and other magazines, honed his skills as a war photographer during the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily.

"His pictures of the invasion and its aftermath remain among the most outstanding documents in the annals of combat photography in any war, before or since," author and journalist Herbert Mitgang wrote in "Phil Stern: A Life's Work," a 2003 collection of Stern photos.

After the war, Stern gaine d fame for photos of icons like Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra in unguarded moments. Unlike the movie-studio portrait photographers whose images were idealized and airbrushed, Stern typically photographed stars candidly on the set, at home and at private gatherings.

"He made them seem real," Robert Cushman, photography curator for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences told the Times in 2003.

One of his most memorable images is of Brando, in jeans and black leather jacket, walking the set of "The Wild One."

Another captures John Wayne chatting with a cigar-chomping John Ford while shooting "The Alamo."

Stern, who began working for Life in 1941, told the magazine in a 1993 interview that he rarely became friendly with the stars he photographed.

"I was like the plumber who comes to fix your toilet, then you don't see him again," he said. Besides, he said, "I didn't care to know them, usually - so many of them were frankly a pain."

For several decades, Stern also shot album covers and was a familiar presence at recording sessions with Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and other jazz greats. He was also the official photographer of President John F. Kennedy's inaugural gala.

In 1945, Stern married Rose Mae Lindou, a model with the John Robert Powers agency. She preceded him in death, as did his daughter, Lata, and son, Philip. His survivors include sons Peter Stern and Tom Stern, and eight grandchildren, the Times said.

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Information from: Los Angeles Times




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My sincere condolences to Phil's family and friends during this time of grief. My prayer is that the Almighty God will give you comfort as you mourn Phil's passing (Psalms 55:22). We have all lost this wonderful person who gifted us with his intuitve eye through the lens of his camera.

BLESS YOUR FAMILY.

So sorry to hear about your loss. I pray your family finds comfort in God's promise

So sorry to hear about your loss. You know that God and Jesus are in the best position to comfort us when we lose a loved one in death.

I am sorry for your loss. Please find peace and comfort in knowing God cares for you and will help you in your time of need. At 1 Pet. 5:7, He invites you to "throw all your anxiety upon Him." Continue to rely on Him for strength during this difficult time.

We are so indebted to Mr. Stern for all his candid photo contributions. Though he had a long and much fulfilled life, please allow the real hope of being reunited with him in the promised Paradise free of any sickness and even death prove to be both comforting and appealing to the entire Stern family. He will always be cherished through his work!

Please accept my condolences on the loss of Phil Stern. We appreciate the lasting memories he provided through the lens of his camera. May God Almighty provide comfort to his family during this difficult time-Rom. 15:33.

My sympathy to your family during this time of grief.