Adrian Biddle


Adrian Biddle,, was an English cinematographer.

Life and career

Biddle was a talented swimmer in his youth, and because of that, the underwater photographer Egil Woxholt hired him to be his apprentice. Uncredited, he worked in this capacity on both the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service and Murphy's War.
After this, Biddle worked for Ridley Scott's advertising company "R.S.A.", shooting many commercials, and when Scott began working on films, Biddle followed him, working as a clapper loader on The Duellists, and as a focus puller on Alien.
He then returned working as a cinematographer on advertisements, where he developed some new lighting techniques and worked on several famous campaigns, most notably the 1984 ad for Apple, also directed by Scott.
The advert's photography, along with a personal recommendation from Scott, prompted James Cameron to hire Biddle for Aliens, after the original cinematographer Dick Bush left over creative differences.
Biddle was a cinematographer on another 25 feature films, including Thelma & Louise, which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.

Death

Biddle died at the age of 53 on December 7, 2005. His wife was driving him to shoot a commercial in Central London when he suffered a heart attack.
He was survived by his wife Mo and his three children, Alice, Esther and Alfie, who is also a cinematographer.
V for Vendetta, which he had finished filming, was dedicated to his memory.

Filmography

Film
YearTitleDirectorNotes
1986AliensJames Cameron
1987The Princess BrideRob Reiner
1988WillowRon Howard
1988The DawningRobert Knights
1989The Tall GuyMel Smith
1991Thelma & LouiseRidley Scott
19921492: Conquest of ParadiseRidley Scott
1994City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's GoldPaul Weiland
1995Judge DreddDanny Cannon
1996101 DalmatiansStephen Herek
1997The Butcher BoyNeil Jordan
1997Event HorizonPaul W. S. Anderson
1997Fierce CreaturesRobert Young
Fred Schepisi		With Ian Baker
1998Holy ManStephen Herek
1999The World Is Not EnoughMichael Apted
1999The MummyStephen Sommers
2000The Weight of WaterKathryn Bigelow
2000102 DalmatiansKevin LimaWith Roger Pratt
2001The Mummy ReturnsStephen Sommers
2002Reign of FireRob Bowman
2003Shanghai KnightsDavid Dobkin
2004Bridget Jones: The Edge of ReasonBeeban Kidron
2004Laws of AttractionPeter Howitt
2005An American HauntingCourtney SolomonPosthumous release
2005V for VendettaJames McTeiguePosthumous release

Television
YearTitleDirectorNotes
1989Smith and Jones in Small DosesPaul WeilandEpisode "Second Thoughts"