Oliver Wood
Oliver Wood
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.
Known For
Personal Info
Known For
Camera
Known Credits
53
Gender
Male
Birthday
1942-02-21 (83 years old)
Place of Birth
London, England
Acting

2010

The Other Guys as Captain Salty
Crew

2022

Morbius Director of Photography

2018

The Equalizer 2 Director of Photography

2018

Holmes & Watson Director of Photography

2016

Grimsby Director of Photography

2016

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back Director of Photography

2016

Ben-Hur Director of Photography

2015

Child 44 Director of Photography

2013

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Director of Photography

2013

2 Guns Director of Photography

2012

Safe House Director of Photography

2010

The Other Guys Director of Photography

2009

Surrogates Director of Photography

2008

Step Brothers Director of Photography

2007

The Bourne Ultimatum Director of Photography

2006

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby Director of Photography

2005

Fantastic Four Director of Photography

2004

The Bourne Supremacy Director of Photography

2004

Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed Director of Photography

2003

Freaky Friday Director of Photography

2003

National Security Director of Photography

2002

The Bourne Identity Director of Photography

2002

The Adventures of Pluto Nash Director of Photography

2002

I Spy Director of Photography

2000

U-571 Director of Photography

1998

Mighty Joe Young Director of Photography

1997

Face/Off Director of Photography

1997

Switchback Director of Photography

1996

2 Days in the Valley Director of Photography

1996

Celtic Pride Director of Photography

1995

Mr. Holland's Opus Director of Photography

1994

Terminal Velocity Director of Photography

1993

For Love or Money Director of Photography

1993

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit Director of Photography

1993

Rudy Director of Photography

1991

Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey Director of Photography

1991

Mystery Date Director of Photography

1990

The Adventures of Ford Fairlane Director of Photography

1990

Die Hard 2 Director of Photography

1989

Miami Vice: Freefall Director of Photography

1987

Nasty Hero Director of Photography

1986

Neon Maniacs Director of Photography

1985

The Sex O'Clock News Director of Photography

1984

Alphabet City Director of Photography

1984

Miami Vice Director of Photography

1983

The Returning Director of Photography

1982

Q Additional Photography

1979

Don't Go in the House Director of Photography

1978

Feedback Cinematography

1977

Danny Cinematography

1970

The Honeymoon Killers Director of Photography

1969

The White Slave Director of Photography

1969

Popdown Cinematography