John Bailey, a Hollywood cinematographer whose nearly five-decade career included such films as “The Big Chill” and “Groundhog Day” and a two-year stint as the Film Academy president, died Friday at 81.
“It is with deep sadness I share with you that my best friend and husband, John Bailey, passed away peacefully in his sleep early this morning,” said his wife, Carol Littleton, an Oscar-nominated film editor. “During John’s illness, we reminisced how we met 60 years ago and were married for 51 of those years. We shared a wonderful life of adventure in film and made many long-lasting friendships along the way. John will forever live in my heart.”
Starting in 1972 and running through 2022, he amassed 86 cinematographer credits in a filmography that includes countless hits and household movie titles. In addition to 1983’s “The Big Chill” and 1993’s “Groundhog Day,” they include “Ordinary People” (1980), “Silverado” (1985), “The Accidental Tourist” (1988), “In the Line of Fire” (1993), “As Good as It Gets” (1997), “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” (2003), “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” (2005), “Must Love Dogs” (2005) and many more.
“I’ve never read a script to try to find photographic opportunities,” the Academy quoted Bailey as saying. “I look at the emotional value to see if I’m moved.”
Bailey served two terms as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, from 2017 to 2019 and was the first cinematographer to hold the position. Bailey, a member of the Cinematographers Branch of the Academy since 1981, also served 15 years as an Academy governor.
“All of us at the Academy are deeply saddened to learn of John’s passing,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy president Janet Yang. “John was a passionately engaged member of the Academy and the film community. He served as our president and as an Academy governor for many years and played a leadership role on the Cinematographers Branch. His impact and contributions to the film community will forever be remembered. Our thoughts and support are with Carol at this time.”
During his tenure as Academy governor, he was vice president and chair of the Preservation and History Committee. He also served on the Academy Museum Board of Trustees and on several Academy committees, including the Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, Film Scholar and Grants, International Outreach, the Science and Technology Council, Membership Screenings and In Memoriam committees, as well as the former Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee.
He also served as the Academy’s representative on the Library of Congress’s National Film Preservation Board. Bailey was a member of the American Society of Cinematographers, serving as secretary and vice president on its board of governors. He served on the juries of the Venice Film Festival, Aspen Shortsfest and Poland’s EnergaCAMERIMAGE Film Festival.
In November 2014, he received the Ojai Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award, and was honored by the American Society of Cinematographers with its Lifetime Achievement Award in February 2015. In 2019, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the EnergaCAMERIMAGE Film Festival.
Bailey is survived by his wife Carol Littleton, an Oscar-nominated film editor and former Academy governor who will be presented with an Honorary Oscar in January.
A memorial service for Bailey will be held at a future date. The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Academy Foundation in memory of John Bailey.
