---
name: "Vilmos Zsigmond"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/vilmos-zsigmond"
fi1m_id: "vilmos-zsigmond"
imdb_id: "nm0005936"
tmdb_id: 12235
wikidata_id: "Q963628"
roles: ["Cinematographer"]
born: "16 June 1930"
died: "1 January 2016"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 81
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-04T23:38:58.566228+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Vilmos Zsigmond

## Identity

Vilmos Zsigmond

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/vilmos-zsigmond
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** vilmos-zsigmond
- **IMDb ID:** nm0005936
- **TMDB ID:** 12235
- **Wikidata ID:** Q963628
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilmos_Zsigmond, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q963628, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005936/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/12235

Cinematographer. Born 16 June 1930 in Szeged, Hungary. Died 1 January 2016.

## Details

- **Work:** Cinematographer
- **Born:** 16 June 1930, Szeged, Hungary
- **Died:** 1 January 2016
- **Active:** 1971–2006
- **Also known as:** William Zsigmond, William Zsigmund
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 11: 1 acting, 10 crew
- **Frequently works with:** [Brian De Palma](https://film.one/person/brian-de-palma.md), [Christopher Walken](https://film.one/person/christopher-walken.md), [Michael Cimino](https://film.one/person/michael-cimino.md), [Robert Altman](https://film.one/person/robert-altman.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won · 3 nominated)
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 85 (6), 1980s 80 (3), 1990s 64 (1), 2000s 56 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 81 to 77 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 7 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 7, Crime 3, Thriller 3, Western 3, Mystery 2, Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 22 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $540m across 9 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilmos_Zsigmond, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q963628, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005936/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/12235

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Blow Out*](https://film.one/film/blow-out.md) (88), [*Close Encounters of the Third Kind*](https://film.one/film/close-encounters-of-the-third-kind.md) (85), [*Heaven's Gate*](https://film.one/film/heavens-gate.md) (79), [*Maverick*](https://film.one/film/maverick.md) (64)
- **Tubi:** [*McCabe & Mrs. Miller*](https://film.one/film/mccabe-and-mrs-miller.md) (90), [*The Witches of Eastwick*](https://film.one/film/the-witches-of-eastwick.md) (73)
- **Apple TV:** [*The Long Goodbye*](https://film.one/film/the-long-goodbye.md) (86)
- **Netflix:** [*The Deer Hunter*](https://film.one/film/the-deer-hunter.md) (84)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Vilmos Zsigmond was a Hungarian-American cinematographer. Born in Szeged, Hungary, on 16 June 1930, he studied cinematography at the Academy of Drama and Film in Budapest. He emigrated to the United States in 1957 after filming the Hungarian Revolution with fellow student László Kovács.

Zsigmond shot *Deliverance* (1972), *Close Encounters of the Third Kind* (1977), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, and *The Deer Hunter* (1978), for which he won the BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography. He worked regularly with directors including Robert Altman, Steven Spielberg, Brian De Palma, Michael Cimino and Woody Allen. He received further Oscar nominations for *The River* (1984) and *The Black Dahlia* (2006). Zsigmond died on 1 January 2016.

*Sources: nytimes.com, en.wikipedia.org, theguardian.com.*

## On Fi1m (11)

### Performed in (1)

- *Maverick* (1994), Fi1m 64, as Albert Bierstadt — [page](https://film.one/film/maverick.md)

### Crew (10) — the average rests on these

- *The Black Dahlia* (2006), Fi1m 56, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-black-dahlia.md)
- *The Witches of Eastwick* (1987), Fi1m 73, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-witches-of-eastwick.md)
- *Blow Out* (1981), Fi1m 88, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/blow-out.md)
- *Heaven's Gate* (1980), Fi1m 79, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/heavens-gate.md)
- *The Deer Hunter* (1978), Fi1m 84, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-deer-hunter.md)
- *Close Encounters of the Third Kind* (1977), Fi1m 85, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/close-encounters-of-the-third-kind.md)
- *The Long Goodbye* (1973), Fi1m 86, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-long-goodbye.md)
- *Deliverance* (1972), Fi1m 85, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/deliverance.md)
- *McCabe & Mrs. Miller* (1971), Fi1m 90, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/mccabe-and-mrs-miller.md)
- *The Hired Hand* (1971), Fi1m 80, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hired-hand.md)

## Complete filmography (93)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Blood & Flesh: The Reel Life & Ghastly Death of Al Adamson* (2019), Actor
- *Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks* (2014), Director of Photography
- *God the Father* (2014), Director of Photography
- *Compulsion* (2013), Director of Photography
- *The Maiden Danced to Death* (2011), Director of Photography
- *You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger* (2010), Director of Photography
- *Louis* (2010), as Hungarian Photographer · Director of Photography
- *Torn from the Flag* (2007), Executive Producer, Director of Photography
- *Cassandra's Dream* (2007), Director of Photography
- *The Black Dahlia* (2006), Director of Photography — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/the-black-dahlia.md)
- *Surrender, Dorothy* (2006), Director of Photography
- *Melinda and Melinda* (2004), Director of Photography
- *Jersey Girl* (2004), Director of Photography
- *Timeline* (2003), Second Unit Director of Photography
- *Ban Bánk* (2003), Director of Photography
- *Life as a House* (2001), Director of Photography
- *The Mists of Avalon* (2001), series, Director of Photography
- *The Body* (2001), Director of Photography
- *Light Keeps Me Company* (2000), Director of Photography
- *The Argument* (1999), Director of Photography
- *Playing by Heart* (1998), Director of Photography
- *The Ghost and the Darkness* (1996), Director of Photography
- *Assassins* (1995), Director of Photography
- *The Crossing Guard* (1995), Director of Photography
- *Maverick* (1994), as Albert Bierstadt · Director of Photography — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/maverick.md)
- *Intersection* (1994), Director of Photography
- *Sliver* (1993), Director of Photography
- *Stalin* (1992), Director of Photography
- *The Long Shadow* (1992), Director
- *The Bonfire of the Vanities* (1990), Director of Photography
- *The Two Jakes* (1990), Director of Photography
- *Fat Man and Little Boy* (1989), Director of Photography
- *Journey to Spirit Island* (1988), Director of Photography
- *The Witches of Eastwick* (1987), Director of Photography — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/the-witches-of-eastwick.md)
- *Real Genius* (1985), Director of Photography
- *The River* (1984), Director of Photography
- *No Small Affair* (1984), Director of Photography
- *Table for Five* (1983), Director of Photography
- *Jinxed!* (1982), Director of Photography
- *The Border* (1982), Additional Photography
- *Blow Out* (1981), Director of Photography — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/blow-out.md)
- *Heaven's Gate* (1980), Director of Photography — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/heavens-gate.md)
- *The Rose* (1979), Director of Photography
- *Flesh & Blood* (1979), Director of Photography
- *Flesh & Blood* (1979), series, Director of Photography
- *Winter Kills* (1979), Director of Photography
- *The Deer Hunter* (1978), Director of Photography — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-deer-hunter.md)
- *The Last Waltz* (1978), Additional Director of Photography
- *Close Encounters of the Third Kind* (1977), Director of Photography — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/close-encounters-of-the-third-kind.md)
- *Obsession* (1976), Director of Photography
- *Death Riders* (1976), Director of Photography
- *Sweet Revenge* (1976), Director of Photography
- *Iron and Horse* (1975), Director of Photography
- *Mahogany* (1975), Additional Photography
- *Funny Lady* (1975), Additional Photography
- *The Girl from Petrovka* (1974), Director of Photography
- *The Sugarland Express* (1974), Director of Photography
- *Cinderella Liberty* (1973), Director of Photography
- *Scarecrow* (1973), Director of Photography
- *The Long Goodbye* (1973), Director of Photography — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/the-long-goodbye.md)
- *Images* (1972), Director of Photography
- *Deliverance* (1972), Director of Photography — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/deliverance.md)
- *The Hired Hand* (1971), Director of Photography — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hired-hand.md)
- *McCabe & Mrs. Miller* (1971), Director of Photography — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/film/mccabe-and-mrs-miller.md)
- *Red Sky at Morning* (1971), Director of Photography
- *The Ski Bum* (1971), Director of Photography
- *Threshold* (1971), Director of Photography
- *Horror of the Blood Monsters* (1970), Director of Photography
- *A Long Way from Nowhere* (1970), Cinematography
- *Futz* (1969), Director of Photography
- *Five Bloody Graves* (1969), Director of Photography
- *The Monitors* (1969), Director of Photography
- *The Picasso Summer* (1969), Director of Photography
- *The Name of the Game Is Kill* (1968), Director of Photography
- *Prelude* (1968), Director of Photography
- *Blood of Ghastly Horror* (1967), Director of Photography
- *The Fiend with the Electronic Brain* (1967), Cinematography
- *Jennie: Wife/Child* (1967), Director of Photography
- *Mondo Mod* (1967), Director of Photography
- *1999 A.D.* (1967), Director of Photography
- *Road to Nashville* (1966), Director of Photography
- *Rat Fink* (1965), Cinematography, Director of Photography
- *Psycho a Go Go* (1965), Director of Photography
- *Summer Children* (1965), Director of Photography
- *Deadwood '76* (1965), Director of Photography
- *Tales of a Salesman* (1965), Director of Photography
- *The Nasty Rabbit* (1964), Director of Photography
- *The Time Travelers* (1964), Director of Photography
- *What's Up Front!* (1964), Director of Photography
- *The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!?* (1964), Camera Operator
- *Living Between Two Worlds* (1963), Director of Photography
- *The Sadist* (1963), Director of Photography
- *I Hear the Carpenter Singing* (1963), Cinematography

## Gallery

- ![Vilmos Zsigmond](https://film.one/media/person/104848/gallery-7ffc35c7c673.jpg) Vilmos Zsigmond — che (Please credit as "Petr Novák, Wikipedia" in case you use this outside Wikimedia projects.), CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Vilmos_Zsigmond_KVIFF.jpg/1280px-Vilmos_Zsigmond_KVIFF.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Philip T. Reeker, US Ambassador to Macedonia, presenting the Cultural Diplomacy Award to cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond on stage at the Closing Ceremony. Manak (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/104848/gallery-69c21916cee9.jpg) Philip T. Reeker, US Ambassador to Macedonia, presenting the Cultural Diplomacy Award to cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond on stage at the Closing Ceremony. Manak (2010) — US Embassy, Macedonia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Zsigmond_at_Manaki_film_festival.jpg/1280px-Zsigmond_at_Manaki_film_festival.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Vilmos Zsigmond](https://film.one/media/person/104848/gallery-0f0745aec96a.jpg) Vilmos Zsigmond — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won, 3 nominated

- 2007: Best Cinematography (nominated), for *The Black Dahlia*
- 1985: Best Cinematography (nominated), for *The River*
- 1979: Best Cinematography (nominated), for *The Deer Hunter*
- 1978: Best Cinematography (won), for *Close Encounters of the Third Kind*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 1 won

- 1980: Best Cinematography (won), for *The Deer Hunter*

### Other awards — 2 won

- honorary citizen of Szeged 2004: honorary citizen of Szeged (won)
- Corvin Chain 2001: Corvin Chain (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/vilmos-zsigmond