John Bailey, cameraman of “Ordinary People” and “The Big Chill” and former president of the Academy, died at the age of 81

John Bailey, the cinematographer who won, among other things, the Oscar for best film Normal people And The great cold and who became president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, died Friday in Los Angeles. He was 81.

“It is with deep sadness that I inform you that my best friend and husband, John Bailey, passed away peacefully in his sleep early this morning,” said his wife, Carol Littleton, an Oscar-nominated film editor and former Academy governor. . a speech Statement from AMPAS tonight. “During John’s illness we remembered how we met 60 years ago and were married for 51 years. In the film, we experienced a wonderful life full of adventures and made many long-lasting friendships along the way. John will live on in my heart forever.”

In addition to Normal peopleIt was directed by Robert Redford and won four Oscars in 1981, including Bailey’s CV The Big Chill, Silverado, The Accidental Tourist, Groundhog Day, In the Line of Fire, As Good as It Gets, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants And Must like dogs over a career spanning five decades.

Bailey began his career as a camera assistant on the 1971 film Asphalt surface with two lanes.

Bailey has been a member of the Academy’s Cinematography Department since 1981 and has served as the Academy’s Governor for fifteen years and President for two terms (2017 to 2019). He was the first cameraman to hold this position.

During his time at the Academy, he served as vice president and chair of the Preservation and History Committee, where he was an AMPAS representative on the National Film Preservation Board of the Library of Congress. His committee work has included the Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, Film Scholarship and Awards, International Outreach, the Science and Technology Council, Membership Screenings and In Memoriam committees and the former Executive Committee of the Foreign Language Film Award.

“All of us at the Academy are deeply saddened by the news of John’s death,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang. “John was a passionate member of the Academy and the film community. He served as our Academy President and Governor for many years and played a leadership role in the Camera Department. His influence and contributions to the film community will be remembered forever. Our thoughts and support are with Carol at this time.”

Bailey was also a member of the American Society of Cinematographers and served as secretary and vice president of the board. In February 2015, he received the ASC’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bailey’s memory to the Academy Foundation.