# Allen Daviau

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American cinematographer (1942–2020)

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Allen Daviau Born John Allen Daviau (1942-06-14)June 14, 1942 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. Died April 15, 2020(2020-04-15) (aged 77) Los Angeles, California, U.S. Occupation Cinematographer Years active 1967–2010 Relatives Anne Rice (cousin) Alice Borchardt (cousin)

**John Allen Daviau** (June 14, 1942 – April 15, 2020)[1] was an American [cinematographer](/source/Cinematographer) known for his collaborations with [Steven Spielberg](/source/Steven_Spielberg) on *[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial](/source/E.T._the_Extra-Terrestrial)* (1982), *[The Color Purple](/source/The_Color_Purple_(1985_film))* (1985), and *[Empire of the Sun](/source/Empire_of_the_Sun_(film))* (1987). He received five [Academy Award](/source/Academy_Awards) nominations and two [British Academy Film Award](/source/British_Academy_Film_Award) nominations, with one win. In addition to his work in film, Daviau served as Cinematographer-in-Residence at [UCLA](/source/UCLA).[2]

## Career

Daviau was born on June 14, 1942, in New Orleans, and raised in Los Angeles. He graduated from [Loyola High School](/source/Loyola_High_School_(Los_Angeles)) in 1960.[1]

He was introduced to [Steven Spielberg](/source/Steven_Spielberg) in the late 1960s[3] and the two went on to work together on two early short films. They continued their professional working career by collaborating on *[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial](/source/E.T._the_Extra-Terrestrial)* (1982); "Kick the Can," a segment from *[Twilight Zone: The Movie](/source/Twilight_Zone%3A_The_Movie)* (1983), *[The Color Purple](/source/The_Color_Purple_(1985_film))* (1985), an episode of the [NBC](/source/NBC) anthology series *[Amazing Stories](/source/Amazing_Stories_(1985_TV_series))* titled "Ghost Train" (1985), and *[Empire of the Sun](/source/Empire_of_the_Sun_(film))* (1987).[3]

Daviau's work also includes [John Schlesinger](/source/John_Schlesinger)'s *[The Falcon and the Snowman](/source/The_Falcon_and_the_Snowman)* (1985), the Spielberg-produced *[Harry and the Hendersons](/source/Harry_and_the_Hendersons)* (1987), [Albert Brooks](/source/Albert_Brooks)' *[Defending Your Life](/source/Defending_Your_Life)* (1991), [Barry Levinson](/source/Barry_Levinson)'s *[Avalon](/source/Avalon_(1990_film))* (1990) and *[Bugsy](/source/Bugsy)* (1991), [Peter Weir](/source/Peter_Weir)'s *[Fearless](/source/Fearless_(1993_film))* (1993), [Frank Marshall](/source/Frank_Marshall_(filmmaker))'s *[Congo](/source/Congo_(film))* (1995), [Rand Ravich](/source/Rand_Ravich)'s *[The Astronaut's Wife](/source/The_Astronaut's_Wife)* (1999) and [Stephen Sommers](/source/Stephen_Sommers)' *[Van Helsing](/source/Van_Helsing_(film))* (2004), his final feature.

He received lifetime achievement awards from the [Art Directors Guild](/source/Art_Directors_Guild) in 1997 and the [American Society of Cinematographers](/source/American_Society_of_Cinematographers) in 2007.[4]

Daviau shot thousands of commercials, documentaries, industrials and educational films, and created psychedelic special-effects lighting for [Roger Corman](/source/Roger_Corman)'s *[The Trip](/source/The_Trip_(1967_film))* (1967) before he gained entry into the International Photographers Guild.[4]

### *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial*

While doing a lawnmower commercial in Arizona, Daviau learned that Spielberg was looking for a cinematographer for *E.T.* and sent the director a tape of *The Boy Who Drank Too Much*, a 1980 telefilm that he shot. "It had a lot of mood, and it's about kids, so I knew Steven would watch it!" Daviau said. Spielberg stated that he contacted Daviau for his next feature, saying, "I did something I rarely do. I didn't think twice; I picked up the phone and asked Allen if he would photograph my next feature."[5]

## Personal life and death

Following a surgical procedure in 2012, Daviau began using a wheelchair.[1] He died on April 15, 2020, at the age of 77, as a result of complications from [COVID-19](/source/COVID-19) at the [Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital](/source/Motion_Picture_%26_Television_Country_House_and_Hospital).[3]

## Filmography

**Short film**

Year Title Director Notes 1968 Amblin' Steven Spielberg 1975 Names of Sin Rolf Forsberg 1983 Kick the Can Steven Spielberg Segments of Twilight Zone: The Movie It's a Good Life Joe Dante 2000 The Translator Leslie Anne Smith 2001 Sweet Elyse Couvillion 2002 The Routine Bob Giraldi 2004 ASC-DCI StEM Also writer How to Be a Hollywood Player in Less Than Ten Minutes Joe Hudson 2010 The Caretaker 3D Sean Isroelit With Svetlana Cvetko

**Documentary film**

Year Title Director Notes 1971 Say Goodbye David H. Vowell 1973 New Gladiators Bob Hammer With John Hora 2004 Olive or Twist 2004 Peter Moody With Tchell De Paepe, Joachim Hanwright and Michael Knight

**Feature film**

Year Title Director 1973 The Brothers O'Toole Richard Erdman 1974 Mother Tiger Mother Tiger Rolf Forsberg 1982 Harry Tracy, Desperado William A. Graham E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Steven Spielberg 1985 The Falcon and the Snowman John Schlesinger The Color Purple Steven Spielberg 1987 Empire of the Sun Harry and the Hendersons William Dear 1990 Avalon Barry Levinson 1991 Defending Your Life Albert Brooks Bugsy Barry Levinson 1993 Fearless Peter Weir 1995 Congo Frank Marshall 1999 The Astronaut's Wife Rand Ravich 2004 Van Helsing Stephen Sommers

**TV movies**

Year Title Director 1974 Mooch Goes to Hollywood Richard Erdman 1979 The Streets of L.A. Jerrold Freedman 1980 The Boy Who Drank Too Much Rage! William Graham 1983 Legs Jerold Freedman

**TV series**

Year Title Director Episode 1982 McDonaldland Lee Chapman "Skating" 1985 Amazing Stories Steven Spielberg "Ghost Train" 1996 International Cinematographer's Guild Heritage Series Jay Nefcy "Vittorio Storaro"

## Awards and nominations

Organization Year Category Title Result Academy Awards 1982 Best Cinematography E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Nominated 1985 The Color Purple Nominated 1987 Empire of the Sun Nominated 1990 Avalon Nominated 1991 Bugsy Nominated American Society of Cinematographers 1987 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography Empire of the Sun Won 1990 Avalon Nominated 1991 Bugsy Won BAFTA Film Awards 1982 Best Cinematography E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Nominated 1987 Empire of the Sun Won Boston Society of Film Critics 1982 Best Cinematography E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Won Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association 1991 Best Cinematography Bugsy Nominated National Society of Film Critics Best Cinematography Nominated New York Film Critics Circle 1987 Best Cinematography Empire of the Sun Nominated

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Telegraph_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Telegraph_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Telegraph_1-2) Telegraph Obituaries (May 15, 2020). ["Allen Daviau, cinematographer noted for his work with Stephen Spielberg – obituary"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200515232830/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2020/05/15/allen-daviau-cinematographer-noted-work-stephen-spielberg/). *[The Daily Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2020/05/15/allen-daviau-cinematographer-noted-work-stephen-spielberg/) on May 15, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Wrap Staff (April 13, 2010). ["UCLA Taps Bailey as Kodak Cinematographer-in-Residence"](https://www.thewrap.com/ucla-taps-bailey-kodak-cinematographer-residence-16261/). *[TheWrap](/source/TheWrap)*. Retrieved April 16, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-auto_3-2) Barnes, Mike (April 16, 2020). ["Allen Daviau, Spielberg Cinematographer and Five-Time Oscar Nominee, Dies of Coronavirus Complications at 77"](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/allen-daviau-dead-spielberg-cinematographer-five-time-oscar-nominee-was-77-1290572). *[The Hollywood Reporter](/source/The_Hollywood_Reporter)*. Retrieved April 16, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto1_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto1_4-1) [McNary, Dave](/source/Dave_McNary) (April 16, 2020). ["'E.T.' Cinematographer Allen Daviau Dies of COVID-19 at 77"](https://variety.com/2020/film/news/allen-daviau-dead-dies-e-t-empire-of-the-sun-1234582518/). *[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))*. Retrieved April 16, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Williams, David E. (January 2007). ["A Movie Buff's Moment"](https://theasc.com/ac_magazine/January2007/AllenDaviauASC/page1.html). *[American Cinematographer](/source/American_Cinematographer)*. [American Society of Cinematographers](/source/American_Society_of_Cinematographers). Retrieved April 16, 2020.

## External links

- [Allen Daviau](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005679/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

Awards for Allen Daviau v t e American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Cinematography in Film Jordan Cronenweth (1986) Allen Daviau (1987) Conrad Hall (1988) Haskell Wexler (1989) Dean Semler (1990) Allen Daviau (1991) Stephen H. Burum (1992) Conrad Hall (1993) Roger Deakins (1994) John Toll (1995) John Seale (1996) Russell Carpenter (1997) John Toll (1998) Conrad Hall (1999) Caleb Deschanel (2000) Roger Deakins (2001) Conrad Hall (2002) John Schwartzman (2003) Bruno Delbonnel (2004) Dion Beebe (2005) Emmanuel Lubezki (2006) Robert Elswit (2007) Anthony Dod Mantle (2008) Christian Berger (2009) Wally Pfister (2010) Emmanuel Lubezki (2011) Roger Deakins (2012) Emmanuel Lubezki (2013) Emmanuel Lubezki (2014) Emmanuel Lubezki (2015) Greig Fraser (2016) Roger Deakins (2017) Łukasz Żal (2018) Roger Deakins (2019) Erik Messerschmidt (2020) Greig Fraser (2021) Mandy Walker (2022) Hoyte van Hoytema (2023) Edward Lachman (2024) Michael Bauman (2025) v t e BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography 1963–1967 Colour Ted Moore (1963) Geoffrey Unsworth (1964) Otto Heller (1965) Christopher Challis (1966) Ted Moore (1967) Black and White Douglas Slocombe (1963) Oswald Morris (1964) Oswald Morris (1965) Oswald Morris (1966) Gerry Turpin (1967) 1968–present Geoffrey Unsworth (1968) Gerry Turpin (1969) Conrad Hall (1970) Pasqualino De Santis (1971) Geoffrey Unsworth (1972) Anthony B. Richmond (1973) Douglas Slocombe (1974) John Alcott (1975) Russell Boyd (1976) Geoffrey Unsworth (1977) Douglas Slocombe (1978) Vilmos Zsigmond (1979) Giuseppe Rotunno (1980) Geoffrey Unsworth and Ghislain Cloquet (1981) Jordan Cronenweth (1982) Sven Nykvist (1983) Chris Menges (1984) Miroslav Ondříček (1985) David Watkin (1986) Bruno Nuytten (1987) Allen Daviau (1988) Peter Biziou (1989) Vittorio Storaro (1990) Pierre Lhomme (1991) Dante Spinotti (1992) Janusz Kamiński (1993) Philippe Rousselot (1994) John Toll (1995) John Seale (1996) Eduardo Serra (1997) Remi Adefarasin (1998) Conrad Hall (1999) John Mathieson (2000) Roger Deakins (2001) Conrad Hall (2002) Andrew Lesnie (2003) Dion Beebe and Paul Cameron (2004) Dion Beebe (2005) Emmanuel Lubezki (2006) Roger Deakins (2007) Anthony Dod Mantle (2008) Barry Ackroyd (2009) Roger Deakins (2010) Guillaume Schiffman (2011) Claudio Miranda (2012) Emmanuel Lubezki (2013) Emmanuel Lubezki (2014) Emmanuel Lubezki (2015) Linus Sandgren (2016) Roger Deakins (2017) Alfonso Cuarón (2018) Roger Deakins (2019) Joshua James Richards (2020) Greig Fraser (2021) James Friend (2022) Hoyte van Hoytema (2023) Lol Crawley (2024) Michael Bauman (2025) v t e Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography Michael Chapman (1980) Gordon Willis (1981) Allen Daviau (1982) Hiro Narita (1983) Chris Menges (1984) Takao Saitō and Shoji Ueda (1985) Frederick Elmes (1986) Vittorio Storaro (1987) Sven Nykvist (1988) Michael Ballhaus (1989) No Award (1990) Tak Fujimoto (1991) Jack N. Green (1992) Janusz Kamiński (1993) Stefan Czapsky (1994) Alex Nepomniaschy (1995) John Seale (1996) Roger Deakins (1997) Janusz Kamiński (1998) Emmanuel Lubezki (1999) Peter Pau (2000) Roger Deakins (2001) Edward Lachman (2002) Olli Barbé, Bernard Lutic, and 13 others (2003) Zhao Xiaoding (2004) Robert Elswit (2005) Guillermo Navarro (2006) Janusz Kamiński (2007) Christopher Doyle and Rain Kathy Li (2008) Barry Ackroyd (2009) Roger Deakins (2010) Emmanuel Lubezki (2011) Mihai Mălaimare Jr. (2012) Emmanuel Lubezki (2013) Emmanuel Lubezki (2014) Edward Lachman (2015) Chung Chung-hoon (2016) Hoyte van Hoytema (2017) Alfonso Cuarón (2018) Claire Mathon (2019) Joshua James Richards (2020) Ari Wegner (2021) Eliot Rockett (2022) Jonathan Ricquebourg (2023) Lol Crawley (2024) Autumn Durald Arkapaw (2025)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Allen Daviau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Daviau) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Daviau?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.