Douglas Kirkland, the highly respected movie set photographer best known for his iconic — there’s no other word for it — pictures of Marilyn Monroe taken in 1961, died Sunday, his family announced Tuesday. He was 88.
His family reported to The Hollywood Reporter that he died naturally at his Los Angeles home.
Kirkland was born in Toronto in 1934 and raised in the United States. At 26 years of age, he began his bright career as a photographer. Hired as a staff photographer for Look magazine, the next year he made his mark with his photos of Monroe for Look’s 25th anniversary. The images, showing Monroe naked, almost angelic under white bedsheets, were released a year prior to her death. They remain as some of Monroe’s most memorable images.
Kirkland photographed scores of celebrities from Hollywood’s golden age, among them Orson Welles, Audrey Hepburn, Diana Ross, Elizabeth Taylor — his work with her landed him the job photographing Monroe — Mick Jagger, Judy Garland, Bjork, Sophia Loren, and more. His photo of Charlie Chaplain was displayed at the National Photo Gallery in London.
He was also highly sought-after for his ability to take pictures of the set. Photos that were historically significantOver many decades, these films have been influential and highly successful. These include “Saturday Night Fever,” “2001: a Space Odyssey,” “Romancing the Stone,”And “Titanic,”Among many other things.
“Douglas Kirkland has left an impossible void to fill in both his personal and professional lives, and his boundless joie de vivre, warmth and passion will be missed by a long life of wonderful and meaningful friendships,”Palm Springs Photo Festival Director Jess Dunas made the statement in a statement.