Vilmos Zsigmond

Won 1 Oscar. Another 16 wins & 16 nominations. See more awards »

Known For

Close Encounters of the Third Kind Cinematographer

(1977)

The Black Dahlia Cinematographer

(2006)

The Deer Hunter Cinematographer

(1978)

Deliverance Cinematographer

(1972)

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Filmography

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Cinematographer (98 credits)

2014 Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks

2014 God the Father (Documentary)

2012-2014 The Mindy Project (TV Series) (3 episodes)

- Danny and Mindy (2014)

- Girl Next Door (2014)

- Pilot (2012)

2013/I Compulsion

2012 Kickstart Theft (Short)

2011 The Maiden Danced to Death (director of photography)

2010 Louis

2010 You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger

2007 Torn from the Flag: A Film by Klaudia Kovacs (Documentary)

2007 Cassandra's Dream

2006 The Black Dahlia

2006 Surrender, Dorothy (TV Movie)

2004 Melinda and Melinda

2004 Medicine Chest (Video short)

2004 Jersey Girl (director of photography)

2002 Bánk bán

2001 Life as a House (director of photography)

2001 The Mists of Avalon (TV Mini-Series) (2 episodes)

- Episode #1.1 (2001)

- Episode #1.2 (2001)

2001 The Body

2000 Ljuset håller mig sällskap (Documentary)

1999 The Argument (Short)

1998 Illegal Music

1998 Sting: Freak the Mighty (Video short)

1998 Playing by Heart (director of photography)

1996 The Ghost and the Darkness

1995 Assassins

1995 The Crossing Guard

1994 Maverick

1994 Intersection (director of photography)

1993 Sliver

1992 Stalin (TV Movie)

1990 The Bonfire of the Vanities (director of photography)

1990 The Two Jakes

1989 Fat Man and Little Boy (director of photography)

1988 Journey to Spirit Island

1987 The Witches of Eastwick

1985 Real Genius

1984 The River

1984 No Small Affair

1983 Table for Five

1982 Jinxed!

1981 Blow Out (director of photography)

1980 Heaven's Gate

1980 Making Xanadu: The Musical Fantasy Movie (TV Movie documentary)

1979 The Rose

1979 Flesh & Blood (TV Movie)

1979 Winter Kills

1978 The Deer Hunter (director of photography)

1977 Close Encounters of the Third Kind (director of photography)

1976 Obsession (director of photography)

1976 Death Riders (Documentary)

1976 Sweet Revenge

1975 Iron and Horse (Short) (director of photography)

1975 Funny Lady (uncredited)

1974 The Girl from Petrovka

1974 The Sugarland Express (director of photography)

1973 Cinderella Liberty (director of photography)

1973 Scarecrow (director of photography)

1973 The Long Goodbye (photographed by)

1972 Country Music

1972 Deliverance (director of photography)

1972 Images

1971 Threshold (Short) (as William Zsigmond)

1971 The Ski Bum

1971 The Hired Hand

1971 McCabe & Mrs. Miller (director of photography)

1971 Red Sky at Morning

1970 Horror of the Blood Monsters (director of photography - as William Zsigmond)

1969 The Picasso Summer

1969 Baja Marimba Band (TV Movie)

1969 Futz (director of photography)

1969 Five Bloody Graves (director of photography - as William Zsigmond)

1969 The Monitors (director of photography - as William Zsigmund)

1969 The Bold Ones: The Protectors (TV Series) (1 episode)

- A Case of Good Whiskey at Christmas Time (1969)

1969 Satan's Sadists (uncredited)

1969 Hot Rod Action (Documentary) (director of photography)

1968 Jennie: Wife/Child (as William Zsigmond)

1968 Prelude (Short)

1968 The World of Animals: Big Cats, Little Cats (TV Movie documentary)

1968 The Name of the Game Is Kill! (as William Zsigmond)

1967 1999 A.D. (Short) (as Willie Zsigmond)

1967 The Road to Nashville (as William Zsigmund)

1967 Psycho à Go-Go (director of photography - as William Zsigmond)

1967 Mondo Mod (Documentary) (as William Zsigmond)

1965 The Market (TV Movie documentary) (as William Zsigmond)

1965 Rat Fink (director of photography - as William Zsigmond)

1965 Psycho a Go-Go (as William Zsigmond)

1965 Summer Children (as William Zsigmond)

1965 Tales of a Salesman (as William Zsigmond)

1965 Deadwood '76 (director of photography - as William Zsigmond)

1964 The Nasty Rabbit (as William Zsigmond)

1964 The Time Travelers (director of photography - as William Zsigmond)

1964 What's Up Front! (as William Zsigmond)

1963 Story of the Wholesale Produce Market (Documentary short)

1963 Living Between Two Worlds

1963 The Sadist (director of photography - as William Zsigmond)

1955 Hajnal elött (Short)

1953 A Föld (Short)

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Camera and Electrical Department (11 credits)

2012 Kickstart Theft (Short) (camera operator)

2009 Independent Lens (TV Series documentary) (still photographer - 1 episode)

- No Subtitles Necessary: László and Vilmos (2009) ... (still photographer)

2003 Timeline (director of photography: Los Angeles)

1989-1990 China Beach (TV Series) (photographer - 2 episodes)

- Souvenirs (1990) ... (photographer: special interview sequences)

- Vets (1989) ... (photographer: special interview sequences)

1982 The Border (additional photographer) / (camera operator: additional photography)

1978 The Last Waltz (Documentary) (additional director of photography)

1975 Mahogany (additional photography by - uncredited)

1971 Dusty and Sweets McGee (additional photographer: Whiskey-A-Go-Go)

1966 The Cat (nature photographer - as William Zsigmond)

1964 The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!? (camera operator - as William Zsigmond)

1962 Wild Guitar (photographer: second unit - as William Zsigmond)

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Actor (2 credits)

2010 Louis
Hungarian Photographer

1994 Maverick
Albert Bierstadt

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Director (1 credit)

1992 The Long Shadow

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Producer (1 credit)

2007 Torn from the Flag: A Film by Klaudia Kovacs (Documentary) (executive producer)

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Miscellaneous Crew (1 credit)

2018 Air Strike (cinematography consultant)

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Thanks (13 credits)

2016 Der Weg Zurück (Short) (thanks)

2015 Aghápe (Short) (very special thanks)

2015 Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (TV Series documentary) (special thanks - 1 episode)

- Budapest (2015) ... (special thanks)

2015/I Alpha (Short) (very special thanks)

2009 Heartfelt Vacation (Short) (in memory of)

2008 Lymelife (special thanks)

2003 Reflections on Golden Pond (Video documentary short) (special thanks)

2003 Imagining 'Images' (Video documentary short) (special thanks)

2003 Who Killed 'Winter Kills'? (Video documentary short) (special thanks)

2002 Vilmos Zsigmond Flashes 'The Long Goodbye' (Video documentary short) (thanks)

2001 'Obsession' Revisited (Video documentary short) (special thanks)

2000 In Pursuit (Video) (special thanks)

1992 Visions of Light (Documentary) (special thanks: AFI)

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Self (46 credits)

The Man-Eaters of Tsavo (Documentary) (pre-production)
Himself

Eastern Illuminations (Documentary) (filming)
Himself

Phil Stern Eyewitness (Documentary) (post-production)
Himself

2019 Blood & Flesh: The Reel Life & Ghastly Death of Al Adamson (Documentary)

1997-2017 International Cinematographer's Guild Heritage Series (TV Series)
Himself

- Looking Back (2017) ... Himself

- Vilmos Zsigmond (1997) ... Himself

2017 Spielberg (TV Movie documentary)
Himself - Cinematographer

2017 The Heritage Interviews 1991-2005 (Video documentary short)
Himself

2016 Vilmos Zsigmond on 'McCabe & Mrs. Miller' (Documentary short)

2016 Close Encounters with Vilmos Zsigmond (Documentary)
Himself

2016 Hungarian Interview with Vilmos Zsigmond (TV Special documentary)
Himself

2015 Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (TV Series documentary)
Himself - Interviewee

- Budapest (2015) ... Himself - Interviewee

2013 Psycho's Sister: Making 'The Name of the Game Is Kill' (Documentary)
Himself

2013 Painting Jackson County: An Interview with Vilmos Zsigmond (Documentary short)

2012 Black and White in Color: Vilmos Zsigmond on 'Blow Out' (Video short)
Himself

2012 Side by Side (Documentary)
Himself

2011 American Masters (TV Series documentary)
Himself

- Woody Allen: A Documentary (2011) ... Himself

2010 Silhouettes in Shadow and Light (Documentary)
Himself

2010 A Cinematic Life: The Art & Influence of Conrad Hall (Video short)
Himself

2009 Independent Lens (TV Series documentary)
Himself

- No Subtitles Necessary: László and Vilmos (2009) ... Himself

2008 Light Is Everything: Vilmos Zsigmond on Cinematography (Documentary)
Himself

2008 Na plovárne (TV Series)
Himself

- Na plovárne s Vilmosem Zsigmondem (2008) ... Himself

2008 No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos (Documentary)
Himself

2007 Master and the Disciples: Unfinished Conversation About Cinematography (Documentary)
Himself

2007 Deliverance: Betraying the River (Video documentary short)
Himself

2007 Deliverance: Delivered (Video short)
Himself

2007 Deliverance: The Journey (Video short)
Himself

2006 Wanderlust (TV Movie documentary)
Himself

2006 Cinematographer Style (Documentary)
Himself

2006 Who Needs Sleep? (Documentary)
Himself

2004 Final Cut: The Making and Unmaking of Heaven's Gate (Documentary)
Himself

2004 Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (TV Movie documentary)
Himself

2003 Shooting 'The Deer Hunter' (Video short)
Himself

2003 The Return of 'The Hired Hand' (Video documentary)
Himself

2003 Imagining 'Images' (Video documentary short)
Himself

2003 Who Killed 'Winter Kills'? (Video documentary short)
Himself

2003 Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (Documentary)
Himself

2002 Vilmos Zsigmond Flashes 'The Long Goodbye' (Video documentary short)
Himself

2001 Character Building: Inside 'Life as a House' (Video short documentary)
Himself

2001 The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' (Video documentary)
Himself

2001 'Obsession' Revisited (Video documentary short)
Himself

2000 Ljuset håller mig sällskap (Documentary)
Himself - Interviewee

1997 Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western (TV Movie documentary)
Himself

1995 A Film és... I.-XIV (TV Series documentary)
Himself (1995)

1992 Mesterek és tanítványok (Short)
Himself

1992 Visions of Light (Documentary)
Himself

1978 The 50th Annual Academy Awards (TV Special)
Himself - Winner

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Archive footage (2 credits)

2016 The Oscars (TV Special)
Himself - In Memoriam

2014 Altman (Documentary)
Himself

Personal Details

Other Works:

Theatrical commercial, L.A. Times (on camera)

Publicity Listings:

4 Biographical Movies | 4 Interviews | 6 Articles | 2 Pictorials | See more »

Official Sites:

Budapest Cinematographers MasterClass's Master

Alternate Names:

William Zsigmond | Willie Zsigmond | William Zsigmund

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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

I like to work with Michael Cimino. I don't like him personally - he's very difficult to work with, because he's very demanding and he doesn't think about anybody around him, he's yelling at everybody. But as a film director, I think he's one of the best. See more »

Trivia:

Began his career photographing the Hungarian revolution of 1956. Won several international and domestic awards as director of TV commercials. See more »