Roizman earned five Oscar nominations for his work on THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971), THE EXORCIST (1973), NETWORK (1976), TOOTSIE (1982) and WYATT EARP (1994). He began his career shooting television commercials before making his debut feature film, STOP, in 1970. His other notable credits include THE HEARTBREAK KID, THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR, THE ADDAMS FAMILY and GRAND CANYON. Roizman represented the Cinematographers Branch on the Academy’s Board of Governors from 2002 to 2011.
1936
Owen Roizman is born in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Sol Roizman, was a cameraman, and his uncle, Morrie Roizman, produced the Oscar-nominated documentary short, REMBRANDT: A SELF-PORTRAIT (1954).
1971
At the age of 34, Roizman shoots his first studio film, William Friedkin’s THE FRENCH CONNECTION. The dynamic, gritty New York lensing earns Roizman his first Academy Award nomination, with the film itself taking home awards for Best Picture, Actor, Directing, Film Editing and Adapted Screenplay.
1973
Friedkin and Roizman team up again for the pioneering horror film THE EXORCIST, which earns Roizman his second Oscar nomination and earns wins for Sound and Adapted Screenplay.
1974
Director Sean Baker celebrates Roizman's unique way of capturing New York on film.
1975
Roizman teams up with director Sydney Pollack for the tense conspiracy thriller THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR. They go on to work together again on THE ELECTRIC HORSEMAN (1979), ABSENCE OF MALICE (1981), HAVANA (1990) and TOOTSIE (1982), which earns Roizman another Oscar nomination.
1976
Andrew Garfield shares how Roizman's work with Sidney Lumet on NETWORK inspires him as a filmmaker.
1976
Jake Gyllenhaal discusses the impact of Roizman's camerawork and lighting in NETWORK.
1976
Sidney Lumet's blistering, Oscar-winning NETWORK, a darkly comic depiction of television culture, opens in theaters and earns Roizman a third Oscar nomination for his innovative use of progressive lighting, which grows brighter and more artificial as the story develops.
1978
Director Ulu Grosbard recruits Roizman for the gritty prison drama STRAIGHT TIME. The director and cinematographer join forces again in 1981 for the period mystery TRUE CONFESSIONS, which allows Roizman to emulate the look of classic Hollywood crime films.
1990
Director Lawrence Kasdan convinces Roizman to step behind the camera on feature films again for the dark comedy I LOVE YOU TO DEATH. “I had always admired his work,” Kasdan recalled. “I was a huge fan, and when we met we hit it off immediately.” They go on to work together again on GRAND CANYON (1991), WYATT EARP (1994), which earns Roizman his fifth Oscar nomination, and FRENCH KISS (1995).
2002
The Academy’s Cinematographers Branch elects Roizman as a Governor.
2017
Owen Roizman will receive Honorary Award from the Academy's Board of Governors on November 11, 2017. In this clip, actress Elizabeth Marvel shares her admiration for his imagery.