Renowned cinematographer Gilbert Taylor passed away Friday at his home on the Isle of Wight at the age of 99. He is survived by his wife Dee. The couple met on the set of The Punch and Judy Man in 1963.
Taylor started his career in 1929 as a camera assistant at Gainsborough Studios. He served for six years during World War II, becoming an operational cameraman flying in Avro Lancaster bombers, documenting the damage after British bombing raids.
He was known for lensing such classics as, The Beatles film A Hard Day’s Night, Dr. Strangelove, Flash Gordon, The Omen, Alfred Hitchcock‘s Frenzy, Roman Polanski’s Repulsion and Macbeth and George Lucas’s Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.
Taylor was also a founding member of the British Society of Cinematographers. He received a BSC lifetime achievement award in 2001.