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IMDbPro

Vilmos Zsigmond(1930-2016)

  • Cinematographer
  • Camera and Electrical Department
  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Vilmos Zsigmond
LOUIS is an homage to Louis Armstrong, Charlie Chaplin, beautiful women and the birth of American music. The grand Storyville bordellos, alleys and cemeteries of 1907 New Orleans provide a backdrop of lust, blood and magic for 6 year old Louis (Anthony Coleman-pictured above; photo credit: Peter Sorel) as he navigates the colorful intricacies of life in the city. Young Louis's dreams of playing the trumpet are interrupted by a chance meeting with a beautiful and vulnerable girl named Grace (Lowry) and her baby, Jasmine. Haley, in a performance reminiscent of the great comic stars of the silent screen, plays the evil Judge Perry who is determined not to let Jasmine's true heritage derail his candidacy for governor.
Play trailer2:27
Louis (2010)
2 Videos
31 Photos
Along with László Kovács, a fellow student who fled Hungary in 1956, Zsigmond rose to prominence in the 1970s. He is known for his use of natural light and vivid use of color on features such as The Long Goodbye (1973) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977).
BornJune 16, 1930
DiedJanuary 1, 2016(85)
BornJune 16, 1930
DiedJanuary 1, 2016(85)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Won 1 Oscar
    • 19 wins & 16 nominations total

Photos31

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+ 26
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Known for

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
7.6
  • Cinematographer
  • 1977
Mia Kirshner in The Black Dahlia (2006)
The Black Dahlia
5.6
  • Cinematographer
  • 2006
Elliott Gould in The Long Goodbye (1973)
The Long Goodbye
7.5
  • Cinematographer(photographed by)
  • 1973
Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken in The Deer Hunter (1978)
The Deer Hunter
8.1
  • Cinematographer
  • 1978

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Cinematographer

  • Gena Rowlands and Cheyenne Jackson in Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks (2014)
    Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks
    6.6
    • Cinematographer
    • 2014
  • God the Father (2014)
    God the Father
    5.0
    • Cinematographer
    • 2014
  • Ike Barinholtz, Chris Messina, Mindy Kaling, Anna Camp, Zoe Jarman, and Ed Weeks in The Mindy Project (2012)
    The Mindy Project
    7.5
    TV Series
    • director of photography
    • 2012–2014
  • Heather Graham and Carrie-Anne Moss in Compulsion (2013)
    Compulsion
    4.4
    • director of photography
    • 2013
  • Kickstart Theft (2012)
    Kickstart Theft
    8.4
    Short
    • Cinematographer
    • 2012
  • The Maiden Danced to Death (2011)
    The Maiden Danced to Death
    6.3
    • Cinematographer
    • 2011
  • Louis (2010)
    Louis
    7.2
    • Cinematographer
    • 2010
  • You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010)
    You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger
    6.3
    • Cinematographer
    • 2010
  • Torn from the Flag with English Laurels
    Torn from the Flag: A Film by Klaudia Kovacs
    9.0
    • Cinematographer
    • 2007
  • Cassandra's Dream (2007)
    Cassandra's Dream
    6.6
    • director of photography
    • 2007
  • Mia Kirshner in The Black Dahlia (2006)
    The Black Dahlia
    5.6
    • director of photography
    • 2006
  • Diane Keaton, Tom Everett Scott, and Alexa Davalos in Surrender, Dorothy (2005)
    Surrender, Dorothy
    5.4
    TV Movie
    • Cinematographer
    • 2005
  • Will Ferrell, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Radha Mitchell in Melinda and Melinda (2004)
    Melinda and Melinda
    6.4
    • Cinematographer
    • 2004
  • Medicine Chest
    Video
    • Cinematographer
    • 2004
  • Ben Affleck and Raquel Castro in Jersey Girl (2004)
    Jersey Girl
    6.2
    • director of photography
    • 2004

Camera and Electrical Department

  • Kickstart Theft (2012)
    Kickstart Theft
    8.4
    Short
    • camera operator
    • 2012
  • Independent Lens (1999)
    Independent Lens
    8.1
    TV Series
    • still photographer
    • 2009
  • Gerard Butler, Frances O'Connor, and Paul Walker in Timeline (2003)
    Timeline
    5.6
    • director of photography: Los Angeles
    • 2003
  • China Beach (1988)
    China Beach
    8.2
    TV Series
    • photographer: special interview sequences
    • 1989–1990
  • Jack Nicholson in The Border (1982)
    The Border
    6.4
    • additional photographer
    • camera operator: additional photography
    • 1982
  • The Last Waltz (1978)
    The Last Waltz
    8.1
    • additional director of photography
    • 1978
  • Diana Ross in Mahogany (1975)
    Mahogany
    6.1
    • additional photography by (uncredited)
    • 1975
  • Charlotte Rampling and Zalman King in The Ski Bum (1971)
    The Ski Bum
    4.7
    • camera operator
    • 1971
  • Dusty and Sweets McGee (1971)
    Dusty and Sweets McGee
    6.4
    • additional photographer: Whiskey-A-Go-Go
    • 1971
  • Barry Coe, Peggy Ann Garner, and Roger Perry in The Cat (1966)
    The Cat
    5.4
    • nature photographer (as William Zsigmond)
    • 1966
  • The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!? (1964)
    The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!?
    2.3
    • camera operator (as William Zsigmond)
    • 1964
  • Wild Guitar (1962)
    Wild Guitar
    4.6
    • photographer: second unit (as William Zsigmond)
    • 1962
  • Itthon
    Short
    • camera operator
    • 1955

Actor

  • Louis (2010)
    Louis
    7.2
    • Hungarian Photographer
    • 2010
  • Jodie Foster, Mel Gibson, and James Garner in Maverick (1994)
    Maverick
    7.0
    • Albert Bierstadt
    • 1994
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos2

No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos
Clip 7:00
No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos
Trailer: Louis
Trailer 2:27
Trailer: Louis

Personal details

Edit
  • Official site
    • Budapest Cinematographers MasterClass's Master
  • Alternative names
    • William Zsigmond
  • Born
    • June 16, 1930
    • Szeged, Hungary
  • Died
    • January 1, 2016
    • Big Sur, California, USA(undisclosed)
  • Spouse
    • Elizabeth Fuzes(divorced, 2 children)
  • Other works
    Theatrical commercial, L.A. Times (on camera)
  • Publicity listings
    • 4 Biographical Movies
    • 4 Interviews
    • 6 Articles
    • 2 Pictorials

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    He and László Kovács shot footage of the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956 and then escaped to the US, where they sold the footage to CBS.
  • Quotes
    [on Heaven's Gate (1980)] Michael Cimino really wanted to make a perfect film. He could have made this film for much less. He overdid it; he over-complicated it. But they should not have killed him for it.
  • Trademark
      Frequently worked with Robert Altman, Mark Rydell and Woody Allen.
  • Nicknames
    • William Zsigmond
    • Willie

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