Allen Daviau

Allen Daviau
Name	Allen Daviau
Birth date	August 14, 1942
Birth place	Morristown, New Jersey
Death date	April 15, 2020
Death place	Los Angeles
Occupation	Cinematographer
Years active	1964–2015
Notable works	E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Color Purple, Empire of the Sun

Allen Daviau

Allen Daviau was an American cinematographer known for his collaboration with filmmakers on visually expressive, narrative-driven films. He gained prominence through partnerships with directors on major studio and independent productions, earning multiple Academy Awards nominations and recognition from professional societies. Daviau's cinematography combined classical lighting techniques with a keen sense of color and composition, influencing generations of cinematographers and filmmakers.

Early life and education

Daviau was born in Morristown, New Jersey, and grew up during the post-World War II era amid the cultural shifts of New Jersey and New York City. He studied photography and motion picture techniques, engaging with institutions such as University of Southern California, American Film Institute, and regional film programs tied to the International Photographic Association and local community college workshops. Early influences included studies of filmmakers and cinematographers associated with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., and the European movements centered in Cannes Film Festival and Berlin International Film Festival.

Career

Daviau began his career working in television, short films, and industrial projects before moving into feature films during the 1970s. He contributed to productions connected to studios such as Universal Studios, Columbia Pictures, Warner Bros., and Paramount Pictures. Over decades he worked on projects that intersected with figures from Hollywood and international cinema, collaborating on films that screened at Sundance Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, and the Venice Film Festival. His memberships included professional bodies like the American Society of Cinematographers and collaborative circles tied to directors and producers active in Los Angeles and London film communities.

Major collaborations and notable films

Daviau is best known for his collaborations with directors who shaped late 20th‑century cinema. He worked with Steven Spielberg on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Empire of the Sun, with projects that involved studios such as Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures. He collaborated with Steven Spielberg alongside producers and screenwriters connected to Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, and John Williams for soundtracks and production teams. Daviau also photographed The Color Purple directed by Steven Spielberg and projects with filmmakers who participated in festivals including Telluride Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival.

Other notable directors and projects included collaborations with creatives associated with Francis Ford Coppola-era crews, cinematographers who worked on Apocalypse Now-era productions, and teams engaged with Orson Welles-influenced visual storytelling. Daviau shot films that featured actors linked to the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and British Academy Film Awards circuits.

Awards and nominations

Daviau received multiple nominations for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, reflecting recognition by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He earned awards and nominations from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the American Society of Cinematographers, and festival juries at Cannes, Venice, and Berlin. His work on high-profile studio releases placed him among nominees for Golden Globe Awards and critics' awards from bodies such as the National Society of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics Circle.

Style and influence

Daviau's style emphasized naturalistic lighting, painterly compositions, and careful color palettes that supported performances from actors associated with Method acting traditions and classical studio acting schools. His approach influenced cinematographers working within the workflows of Panavision and Arriflex camera systems, and his collaborations intersected with production designers and costume designers who had worked on projects for MGM, RKO Pictures, and modern independent houses. Film schools and cinematography seminars at institutions like USC School of Cinematic Arts and American Film Institute Conservatory cited his work when teaching framing, exposure, and collaborative setcraft.

Personal life and legacy

Daviau lived and worked primarily in Los Angeles and maintained ties to film communities in New York City, London, and Paris. Colleagues from unions and guilds such as the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and the Directors Guild of America remembered him for mentorship and technical proficiency. After his death in 2020, retrospectives and screenings at venues like the Museum of Modern Art (New York) and cinematography programs at British Film Institute institutions highlighted his contributions to narrative cinema. His legacy endures through the films that continue to screen in festivals, retrospectives, and educational curricula.

Category:American cinematographers Category:1942 births Category:2020 deaths