Oliver Wood
Photo from TMDB

Person

Oliver Wood

Known for
Camera
Born
February 21, 1942
Died
February 13, 2023
Place of birth
London, England

IMDb

Biography

Oliver Wood (February 21, 1942 – February 13, 2023) was a British cinematographer, best known for his work on blockbuster action and comedy films such as Die Hard 2, Face/Off, Freaky Friday, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and the Bourne franchise. He collaborated with directors like Paul Greengrass, John Woo, Renny Harlin, Ron Underwood, and Adam McKay and was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography for The Bourne Ultimatum.

Wood was born in London on 21 February 1942. At the age of 19, he moved to New York City. His first break came for director Leonard Kastle on the cult crime film The Honeymoon Killers (1969), where he used available light to give the dark comedy a newsreel look. He shot numerous B-movies and independent films throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, frequently collaborating with cinematographers Joseph Mangine and Fred Murphy. He also worked as a camera operator on higher-profile projects, including Body Rock (1984) and To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), both of which were shot by Robby Müller. He also became a music video and commercial cinematographer, working for directors like Bob Giraldi and Rupert Wainwright.[9]

His big break came when he was director of photography for 53 episodes of the stylish crime drama Miami Vice, serving as the series primary DP between 1987 and 1989. His work on the series caught the attention of producers, enabling him to work on big-budget Hollywood films including Die Hard 2 (1990), Face/Off (1997), U-571 (2000), Fantastic Four (2005), and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013). He was the original director of photography on the swashbuckling action film Cutthroat Island but suffered an on-set injury and was replaced by Peter Levy. He also shot the Bourne Trilogy, where he worked with director Paul Greengrass to produce a spontaneous, naturalistic effect, often using multiple cameras, frequently handheld, citing films such as The Battle of Algiers as an influence. He was nominated for a BAFTA for The Bourne Ultimatum (2007).

In 2016, Wood shot the remake of Ben-Hur, directed by Timur Bekmambetov, utilising GoPro cameras to film the movie's action sequences. His last credit was for Morbius (2022).

Wood died from cancer at his home in Los Angeles, California, on 13 February 2023 at the age of 80. He is survived by his wife, Sabina Groh; his daughters, Katharine Wood and Fiona Wood; and his son, Emerson Forth.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Oliver Wood, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Biography from TMDB, which often draws on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source · CC BY-SA 4.0

In Catlg

1 Work in the catalog credit them.

Cinematography (1)

Filmography

  • MorbiusFilm · 2022 · Director of Photography
  • Holmes & WatsonFilm · 2018 · Director of Photography
  • The Equalizer 2Film · 2018 · Director of Photography
  • Ben-HurFilm · 2016 · Director of Photography
  • GrimsbyFilm · 2016 · Director of Photography
  • Jack Reacher: Never Go BackFilm · 2016 · Director of Photography
  • Child 44Film · 2015 · Director of Photography
  • 2 GunsFilm · 2013 · Director of Photography
  • Anchorman 2: The Legend ContinuesFilm · 2013 · Director of Photography
  • Safe HouseFilm · 2012 · Director of Photography
  • The Other GuysFilm · 2010 · as Captain Salty
  • The Other GuysFilm · 2010 · Director of Photography
  • SurrogatesFilm · 2009 · Director of Photography
  • Step BrothersFilm · 2008 · Director of Photography
  • The Bourne UltimatumFilm · 2007 · Director of Photography
  • Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky BobbyFilm · 2006 · Director of Photography
  • Fantastic FourFilm · 2005 · Director of Photography
  • Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters UnleashedFilm · 2004 · Director of Photography
  • The Bourne SupremacyFilm · 2004 · Director of Photography
  • Freaky FridayFilm · 2003 · Director of Photography
  • National SecurityFilm · 2003 · Director of Photography
  • I SpyFilm · 2002 · Director of Photography
  • The Adventures of Pluto NashFilm · 2002 · Director of Photography
  • The Bourne IdentityFilm · 2002 · Director of Photography
  • U-571Film · 2000 · Director of Photography
  • Mighty Joe YoungFilm · 1998 · Director of Photography
  • Face/OffFilm · 1997 · Director of Photography
  • SwitchbackFilm · 1997 · Director of Photography
  • 2 Days in the ValleyFilm · 1996 · Director of Photography
  • Celtic PrideFilm · 1996 · Director of Photography
  • Mr. Holland's OpusFilm · 1995 · Director of Photography
  • Terminal VelocityFilm · 1994 · Director of Photography
  • For Love or MoneyFilm · 1993 · Director of Photography
  • RudyFilm · 1993 · Director of Photography
  • Sister Act 2: Back in the HabitFilm · 1993 · Director of Photography
  • Bill & Ted's Bogus JourneyFilm · 1991 · Director of Photography
  • Mystery DateFilm · 1991 · Director of Photography
  • Die Hard 2Film · 1990 · Director of Photography
  • The Adventures of Ford FairlaneFilm · 1990 · Director of Photography
  • Nasty HeroFilm · 1987 · Director of Photography
  • Neon ManiacsFilm · 1986 · Director of Photography
  • The Sex O'Clock NewsFilm · 1985 · Director of Photography
  • Alphabet CityFilm · 1984 · Director of Photography
  • Miami ViceTV · 1984 · Director of Photography · 53 episodes
  • The ReturningFilm · 1983 · Director of Photography
  • Don't Go in the HouseFilm · 1979 · Director of Photography
  • FeedbackFilm · 1978 · Cinematography
  • DannyFilm · 1977 · Director of Photography
  • The Honeymoon KillersFilm · 1970 · Director of Photography
  • PopdownFilm · 1969 · Cinematography
  • The White SlaveFilm · 1969 · Director of Photography

Filmography from TMDB. This product uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.

Sources