Adrian Biddle
{{short description| English cinematographer (1952–2005)}}
{{Other uses|Biddle (surname)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{more citations needed|biography|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1952|7|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = Woolwich, London, England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2005|12|7|1952|7|20|df=y}}
| death_place = London, England
| other_names =
| known_for =
| years_active = 1967–2005
| relations = Adam Biddle (brother)
}}
Adrian Biddle, {{small|BSC}} (20 July 1952 – 7 December 2005), was an English cinematographer.
Early life
Biddle was a talented swimmer in his youth, and it was through this that he broke into the film industry. In 1967 the underwater photographer Egil Woxholt hired him to be his apprentice. Uncredited, he worked in this capacity on both the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) and Murphy's War (1971).
Career
After this, Biddle worked for Ridley Scott's advertising company R.S.A., where he worked on many advertisements with Scott; and, when Scott moved into films, Biddle followed him.
He worked as a clapper loader on The Duellists (1977) before advancing to the position of focus puller on Alien (1979).
Following Alien, Biddle returned to working as a cinematographer on advertisements. During this time he developed some new lighting techniques and worked on several famous campaigns, most notably 1984 (1984), directed by Ridley Scott, for Apple. The advert's photography, combined with a personal recommendation from Scott, prompted James Cameron to hire Biddle for Aliens (1986) after the original cinematographer Dick Bush left over creative differences with Cameron. This marked Biddle's first credit as cinematographer in a feature film.Alien Quadrillogy DVD Set, Aliens Special Features: 'This Time It's War' (1985) production documentary
Biddle was a cinematographer on another 25 feature films, including Thelma & Louise (1991), for which he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. In 1997, he was voted European Cinematographer of the Year for his work on The Butcher Boy.
Death
On December 7, 2005, Biddle died from a heart attack while being driven by his wife to shoot a commercial in Central London.{{cite web | url=https://www.screendaily.com/cinematographer-adrian-biddle-dies-aged-53/4025451.article | title=Cinematographer Adrian Biddle dies aged 53 }} He was 53 years old. V for Vendetta, which he had finished filming, was dedicated to his memory.{{cite news |url=https://www.screendaily.com/cinematographer-adrian-biddle-dies-aged-53/4025451.article |title=Cinematographer Adrian Biddle dies aged 53 |first=Wendy |last=Mitchell |date=9 December 2005 |access-date=20 July 2020 |magazine=Screen Daily}}
He was survived by his wife Mo and his three children, Alice, Esther and Alfie, who is also a cinematographer.{{cite news |url=http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=1626&tpl=archnews&force=1 |title=Cinematographer Adrian Biddle Dies Aged 54 |date=8 December 2005 |access-date=20 July 2020 |work=The Irish Film & Television Network}}
Filmography
Film
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Director ! Notes |
|---|
| 1986
| Aliens | |
| 1987
| |
| rowspan=2|1988
| Willow | |
| The Dawning
| |
| 1989
| |
| 1991
|rowspan=2|Ridley Scott | |
| 1992
| |
| 1994
| City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold | |
| 1995
| |
| 1996
| |
| rowspan=3|1997
| |
| Event Horizon
| |
| Fierce Creatures
| With Ian Baker |
| 1998
| Holy Man | Stephen Herek | |
| rowspan=2|1999
| |
| The Mummy
| |
| rowspan=2|2000
| |
| 102 Dalmatians
| With Roger Pratt |
| 2001
| Stephen Sommers | |
| 2002
| |
| 2003
| |
| rowspan=2|2004
| Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason | |
| Laws of Attraction
| |
| rowspan=2|2005
|rowspan=2|Posthumous release |
| V for Vendetta |
Television
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Director ! Notes |
|---|
| 1989
| Smith and Jones in Small Doses | Episode "Second Thoughts" |
Accolades
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Title ! Result |
|---|
| rowspan=3|1991
|rowspan=3|Thelma & Louise | {{nom}} |
| BAFTA Awards
| {{nom}} |
| rowspan=2|British Society of Cinematographers
|rowspan=2|Best Cinematography | {{nom}} |
| 1992
| {{nom}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=0000939}}
- [https://www.theguardian.com/obituaries/story/0,,1689515,00.html Guardian Unlimited obituary]
{{European Film Award for Best Cinematographer}}
{{Underwater diving|unddiv}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Biddle, Adrian}}
Category:English cinematographers
Category:European Film Award for Best Cinematographer winners