Biography
Dean Tavoularis was an American production designer and art director. Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, he grew up in Los Angeles and began his career at Walt Disney Studios as an in-betweener and storyboard artist before moving into live-action film work.
His first major credit as art director was on Bonnie and Clyde (1967). He collaborated extensively with Francis Ford Coppola, serving as production designer on thirteen films including The Godfather (1972), The Godfather Part II (1974), The Conversation (1974), Apocalypse Now (1979) and The Godfather Part III (1990). He received five Academy Award nominations for art direction and won for The Godfather Part II.
Tavoularis died in Paris in April 2026, aged 93. He was married to actress Aurore Clément, whom he met on the set of Apocalypse Now.
