Origins & Early Life

Vilmos Zsigmond (Hungarian: [ˈvilmoʃ ˈʒiɡmond]; June 16, 1930 – January 1, 2016) was a Hungarian-American cinematographer. His work helped shape the look of American movies in the 1970s, making him one of the leading figures in the American New Wave movement. In 2003, he was voted as one of the ten most influential cinematographers in history by the members of the International Cinematographers Guild. Over his career he became associated with many leading American directors, such as Robert Altman, Steven Spielberg, Brian De Palma, Michael Cimino and Woody Allen.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for Close Encounters of the Third Kind and the BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography for The Deer Hunter. He also won an Emmy Award for the HBO miniseries Stalin. His work on the films McCabe and Mrs. Miller, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and The Deer Hunter made the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) list of the top 50 best-shot films from 1950–97. The ASC also awarded him with their Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Zsigmond was born in Szeged, Hungary, the son of Bozena (née Illichman), an administrator, and Vilmos...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alfred von Tirpitz — Contemporary (Died in 1930) (1930): Architect of the modern German battle fleet and naval expansionist.
• Alfred Wegener — Contemporary (Died in 1930) (1930): Pioneering geophysicist known for proposing the theory of continental drift.
• Ali al-Sistani — Contemporary (Born in 1930) (1930): Leading Twelver Shia scholar and Grand Ayatollah of Najaf, Iraq.
• Abbas Kiarostami — Contemporary (Died in 2016) (2016): Master Iranian filmmaker known for blending fiction and documentary styles.
• Ahmed Zewail — Contemporary (Died in 2016) (2016): Pioneering chemist, acclaimed as the 'father of femtochemistry'.
• Alan Rickman — Contemporary (Died in 2016) (2016): Iconic English actor celebrated for his distinctive voice and powerful stage presence.
• Alice Bailey — Shared historical date (06-16 · Born) (1880): American esoteric writer known for neo-theosophical works and pioneering New Age concepts.
• Andrea M. Ghez — Shared historical date (06-16 · Born) (1965): Pioneering astrophysicist known for studying the Milky Way's central black hole.
• Abdul Basit 'Abd us-Samad — Shared historical date (01-01 · Born) (1927): Renowned Egyptian Quran reciter, celebrated for his melodious and deeply engaging vocal style.
• Arcadius — Shared historical date (01-01 · Born) (377): Eastern Roman Emperor who ruled from 395 to 408 AD, succeeding Theodosius I.
• 1930 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1930
• June 16 (06-16) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on June 16
• 2016 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2016
• January 1 (01-01) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 1