Gordon Willis

1931 - 2014

Gordon Willis

1931 - 2014

BORN

1931

DIED

2014

Gordon Willis Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on May 19, 2014.
FALMOUTH, Mass. (AP) - Gordon Willis, one of Hollywood's most celebrated and influential cinematographers, nicknamed "The Prince of Darkness" for his subtle but indelible touch on such definitive 1970s releases as "The Godfather," "Annie Hall" and "All the President's Men," has died. He was 82.

Suzanne Berestecky of the Chapman Cole & Gleason funeral home in Falmouth confirmed Monday that he died and that the home is handling arrangements. Details on Willis' death were not immediately available.

Through much of the 1970s, Willis was the cameraman whom some of Hollywood's top directors relied on during one of filmmaking's greatest eras. Francis Ford Coppola used him for the first two "Godfather" movies, Woody Allen for "Annie Hall" and "Manhattan" and Alan J. Pakula for "Klute" and "All the President's Men."

During a remarkable run from 1971 to 1977, films he worked on won 19 Oscars and were nominated 39 times, from best picture for "The Godfather" and "Annie Hall" to acting for Jane Fonda in "Klute" and John Houseman in "The Paper Chase." Yet Willis never won a competitive Oscar and was nominated just twice, for Allen's "Zelig" and for Coppola's "The Godfather, Part III," which came out in 1990. An outsider by choice, Willis refused to live in California and told People magazine in 1983 that he had no interest in being rewarded "for spending time on the golf course or attending dinner parties."

The academy presented him an honorary award in 2009, noting "his willingness to fly in the face of convention."

Few directors of photography so ably demonstrated that a story could be told through the picture itself, whether the hushed, darkened opening of "The Godfather"; the bland, jaded sunshine of Los Angeles in "Annie Hall" or the shadowy encounters with Deep Throat in "All the President's Men." He liked filming in the late afternoon, when the sun was dimming, and had a feel for capturing melancholy and the distant past.

Willis' trademarks were simplicity, the contrast of light and dark and a willingness to break the rules. He would remember encountering resistance during the first "Godfather" movie when he suggested obscuring Marlon Brando's features and was told that was not the way things were done.

"That's not a good enough reason," Willis later said. "There were times when we didn't want the audience to see what was going on in there (Brando's eyes), and then suddenly, you let them see into his soul for a while."

He continued to collaborate with Allen in the '80s, filming in black and white for the period film "Broadway Danny Rose" and indulging pure make-believe with the mockumentary "Zelig."

"Working with Woody was like working with your hands in your pockets," Willis told the industry publication Below the Line in 2003. "No yelling, just an easy exchange of ideas."

Allen said in a statement, "Gordy was a huge talent and one of the few people who truly lived up to all the hype about him."

Willis had a far rougher relationship with the mercurial Coppola, who savored excess as much as Willis valued restraint. They clashed often during the first "Godfather" as Coppola encouraged the actors to improvise and Willis worried about falling behind schedule. Coppola complained at the time that Willis was grumpy, but also called him a genius.

By "The Godfather, Part II," released in 1974, Willis and Coppola had learned to get along and Willis' camera work would be credited with giving all three "Godfather" movies an uncanny sense of continuity.

Willis ended his career with Pakula's "The Devil's Own" from 1997, later explaining he got "tired of trying to get actors out of trailers, and standing in the rain."

A native of New York City, Willis was the son of a Warner Bros. makeup man. By his late teens his passion was photography, "which cost my father a lot of money." He spent his 20s on fashion shoots in Greenwich Village and served in the Air Force during the Korean War, making training films. He and his wife, Helen, married in 1955. They had three children.

After working on documentaries and TV commercials in the 1960s, Willis broke through into feature films as director of photography for Aram Avakian's X-rated cult movie "The End of the Road." He soon caught the attention of such rising filmmakers as Pakula, Coppola and Hal Ashby, who hired Willis for his first movie, "The Landlord."


Copyright © 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Sign Gordon Willis's Guest Book

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May 17, 2015

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May 25, 2014

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May 24, 2014

Victoria VZj posted to the memorial.

32 Entries

May 17, 2015

I spent some years with Gordon while in the Air Force. We were stationed in Panama, he was with a motion picture unit and I was a still photographer. We became friends and he admired my work as I did his. After the service I met him once in NJ and we caught up with each other's lives even though I was already very familiar with his great career . My condolences to the family and may Gordon rest in peace. Frank Gargiulo

May 25, 2014

SO SORRY FOR THE DEATH OF YOUR LOVED ONE,PLEASE ACCEPT MY CONDOLENCE...............

V-VChavez@

Victoria VZj

May 24, 2014

Circle of Life
Love with in Happiness
For Tears of sadness
weigh colors of Halo
Spiritual afterlife@

serene condolences
To those Families&Friends
who have loss a Loved one..
Rip`

Tina

May 24, 2014

Willis Family, we send our deepest sympathy during this time. May the God of comfort be with you.
When God calls Gordon to wake up to his paradise earth. Gordon will be young again and will be entertaining us with his talent,

May 23, 2014

My sympathies to the family. You are in my thoughts and prayers. God is close to the broken hearted ones, he saves those crushed in the spirit.

vickie langs

May 22, 2014

All those in the Memorial Tombs will hear Jesus voice and come out. My condolences to the entire family. Love,hugs,and prayers

Michael Wilson

May 22, 2014

Mr. Willis was always a huge source of inspiration to myself and my photography. He really was one who surpassed his reputation, His talent will be missed but his legacy will always be revered. God bless him and his family.

May 21, 2014

Please accept my condolences. I'm very sorry for your loss. May the God of all comfort bring you peace. (2Cor 1:4)

Betty, Lisa and Michael Best

May 21, 2014

Deepest condolences for your loss.

May 21, 2014

I am sorry for your loss. May your family find comfort from God during this difficult time. Psalm 65:2

Dan Sutherland

May 21, 2014

Mr. Willis' artistry of manipulating the film's Gamma, the lab's chemicals and the architecture of the performers was unique, subtle and transcendental. He was part of an era when analog film was the only way to create a movie. Willis was an artist of light. One who showed the depth and complexity of the characters in the film.

May 21, 2014

My deepest condolences to the family. May you lean on our Almighty Creator for support and comfort today and those that follow. James 4:8

May 20, 2014

To the family of Mr. Willis; I am sorry for your loss and extend heartfelt condolences. I truly enjoyed his films....the Godfather is at the top of my list. May you find peace in the love of family and friends.

Vic Bulaich

May 20, 2014

Didn't know of G Willis, but like
his comments !

May 20, 2014

Please except my deep condolences. Death of a love one is the hardest thing we can go through, because we are never prepared for it so I hope you find some comfort in knowing sickness, pain and death will one day be no more for this has been promised to us.

May 20, 2014

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

May 20, 2014

Dear Helen: Polly and I were shocked to see a small entry in our local paper this morning of Gordon's passing. After signing onto his obituary in the Enterprise and Cape Cod Times, we can only send our thoughts and prayers your way. We will keep the two of you in our prayers. We miss you as gracious neighbors! Polly and Dick Anglin

May 20, 2014

My condolences to the Willis family. May God strengthen you and support you during this difficult time. 2Cor 1:4

May 19, 2014

My condolences to the family
May you find comfort in drawing close to God at this most difficult time in your lives.
James 4:8

V-VChavez@rip Mr.Willis

Victoria&Andrew ~:~

May 19, 2014

Christ be with you
upon a serene spiritual
light of life after..

Mr.Willis Amazing actor
icon thank you for
sharing your,lifes tears
laughs cheer Drama shows :)
Icon History as in your
wit of movie star writs
of great Bright Brillant
venue & movie creations)
condolences to
GordonWillis Family~

Joe Willis

May 19, 2014

From one Willis to another. God bless and rest in peace..

G Alexander

May 19, 2014

I would.like to express my condolences to the Willis Family for your loss.

Harry Simpson

May 19, 2014

Thank you for sharing a part of your life with us.

Rest Gordon, until you hear at dawn,
the low, clear reveille of God.

Thank you for your service to this nation.

May 19, 2014

My sincere condolences and prayers to the family.

May 19, 2014

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Brenda

May 19, 2014

My heartfelt condolences to the Willis family for your recent loss. Gordon Willis was such an accomplished cinematographer who took his work very seriously for the work was a personal reflection of his values, his style, and his name. As a result, he was well respected by those who knew him and those who worked with him. Surely the life story of this man is recorded in God's memory. For he is indeed precious in God's eyes.

michelle plakas-kaiser

May 19, 2014

rip

Ari

May 19, 2014

May these words bring you as much comfort as they have brought me during my times of sorrow.

Isa 41:10 "Do not be afraid for I am with you. So not Gaze about for I am your God. I will fortify you. I will really help you. I will really keep fast hold of you with my right hand of righteousness"

With heartfelt sympathy and understanding thoughts in this time of sadness.

PE

May 19, 2014

Dear Willis Family, I am truly sorry to hear of your loss. May our Heavenly father be with you And help you endure the days ahead. He knows what you are going through. "God is near to all those calling upon him...and their cry for help he will hear." Psalms 145:18, 19

Nancy Woodwell-Freedman

May 19, 2014

Condolences, prayers & thoughts go to the family, friends & associates of Gordon Willis. He filmed some of the most wonderful & beautiful movies ever made. A true genius, may he rest in peace.

James OBrien

May 19, 2014

The los of a dearone is the sharpest pain of all..we have found a text such as Daniel 12:12-13 can give comfort

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Sign Gordon Willis's Guest Book

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May 17, 2015

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May 25, 2014

Someone posted to the memorial.

May 24, 2014

Victoria VZj posted to the memorial.