Personal info
Known for
Cinematographer
Gender
Male
Birthday
14 June
Location
Louisiana, United States
Edit pageAllen Daviau
Biography
Allen Daviau was an acclaimed American cinematographer known for his visually expressive style and long-standing collaboration with director Steven Spielberg. Born on June 14, 1942, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Daviau developed an early passion for photography and film, which led him to study cinema and eventually work his way up through the camera department in Hollywood. He passed away on April 15, 2020, leaving behind a highly respected legacy in filmmaking.
Daviau gained prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s, becoming one of Spielberg’s key visual collaborators. He served as director of photography on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), The Color Purple (1985), and Empire of the Sun (1987), films noted for their emotional warmth, natural lighting, and painterly composition. His cinematography helped shape some of the most iconic images in modern cinema and earned him multiple Academy Award nominations.
Beyond his work with Spielberg, Daviau also collaborated with directors such as Barry Levinson and Joe Dante, contributing to films including Avalon (1990) and Bugsy (1991). Known for blending technical mastery with emotional storytelling, Allen Daviau remains celebrated for his ability to capture intimacy, wonder, and human connection through the camera.
