Gordon Willis was a renowned American cinematographer, whose remarkable work left an indelible mark on the film industry. He is most famously associated with his collaborations with Francis Ford Coppola, particularly on the iconic Godfather trilogy, as well as his impressive contributions to Woody Allen's Annie Hall and Manhattan.
Willis's groundbreaking approach to cinematography on the first two Godfather films revolutionized the use of low-light photography and underexposed film, allowing him to masterfully control lighting and exposure to create the distinctive sepia tones that brought period scenes in The Godfather Part II to life.
During a remarkable seven-year period spanning from 1970 to 1977, Willis served as the director of photography on six films that collectively received an astonishing 39 Academy Award nominations, with an impressive 19 wins, including three Best Picture awards. Notably, during this time, he failed to receive a single nomination for Best Cinematography.
In addition to his extensive work as a cinematographer, Willis also ventured into directing, helming the film Windows in 1980. His final film as a cinematographer was The Devil's Own, directed by Alan J. Pakula, released in 1997.
Tragically, Gordon Willis passed away on May 18, 2014, just ten days shy of his 83rd birthday, at the age of 82, after a battle with cancer.
