CINEMATOGRAPHER · BORN 1914 · DIED 1978
Geoffrey Unsworth
- Born
- 26 May 1914
- Died
- 28 October 1978
- Known for
- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
21 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Geoffrey Unsworth (26 May 1914 – 28 October 1978) was a director best known for 2001: A Space Odyssey.
21 Interesting Facts About Geoffrey Unsworth
Interesting Facts (6)
- #001
Superman (1978) is dedicated in its credits to the memory of Geoffrey Unsworth "with love and respect," a sign of how much his work and his loss meant to the crew.
- #002
According to director Richard Donner, the flying scenes in Superman (1978) were made possible by a new process Geoffrey Unsworth developed, far more realistic than the standard blue screen of the day, which transformed the look of superhero films.
- #003
The Great Train Robbery (1978) is dedicated to Geoffrey Unsworth's memory, its end credits saying simply, "His friends miss him."
- #004
Geoffrey Unsworth's wife, Maggie Unsworth, worked with him on the script of Half a Sixpence (1967), which he shot.
- #005
In 1976, Queen Elizabeth II made Geoffrey Unsworth an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contribution to film.
- #006
Geoffrey Unsworth shared a Stella Award for his cinematography on Tess (1979), recognition that came after his death.
Characters & Cast (8)
- #007
The last film Geoffrey Unsworth completed was Superman (1978). Unsworth died suddenly on 28 October 1978 while working on both the Superman sequel and Roman Polanski's Tess (1979). While a dedication to Unsworth appears at the beginning of Superman II, he won his second Oscar posthumously for Tess; this proves how productive and impressive his career was.
- #008
Geoffrey Unsworth was not nominated for an Academy Award for his cinematography on 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), which surprised many people. The reason was that, in the cinematographers' community, the film's look was largely attributed to director Stanley Kubrick's vision. While Kubrick won his only Oscar for special effects with this film, Unsworth's contribution was overlooked.
- #009
According to director Richard Donner, the flying scenes in Superman (1978) were made possible by a new imaging process developed by Geoffrey Unsworth. This process provided a much more realistic and natural look than the standard blue screen technique of the period. Unsworth's innovative approach radically changed the visual language of superhero cinema.
- #010
The 1978 film The Great Train Robbery is dedicated to the memory of Geoffrey Unsworth. The film's end credits include the phrase "His friends miss him"; this touching message reflects Unsworth's friendships on set and his lasting impact on his colleagues.
- #011
Geoffrey Unsworth's wife, Maggie Unsworth, worked with him on the screenplay of Half a Sixpence (1967), for which he served as cinematographer.
- #012
Geoffrey Unsworth's partner during the last twenty years of his life was Maggie Unsworth; however, although many sources claim they were married, no official record of such a marriage has been found. A record that in 1961 Margaret Edna Shipway changed her name to Unsworth by court order suggests that this marriage never took place.
- #013
Geoffrey Unsworth began his career as a camera assistant at the Gaumont-British Shepherds Bush studios. Starting to work with Technicolor from 1937, Unsworth came to prominence as a full cinematographer with his first film, The Laughing Lady (1946). These early experiences laid the foundation for his mastery of film technology.
- #014
Geoffrey Unsworth's daughter, Jackie Unsworth, took the stage at the 53rd Academy Awards to accept her father's Best Cinematography Oscar (which he shared with Ghislain Cloquet).
Career & Awards (5)
- #015
George Lucas wanted Geoffrey Unsworth to shoot Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), but he was already committed to Richard Donner's Superman (1978).
- #016
Superman (1978) was the last film Geoffrey Unsworth completed; he died suddenly on 28 October 1978 while working on both the Superman sequel and Roman Polanski's Tess (1979), and while Superman II opens with a dedication to him, he won his second Oscar posthumously for Tess.
- #017
To many people's surprise, Geoffrey Unsworth wasn't Oscar-nominated for his cinematography on 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), largely because his peers credited the film's look to Stanley Kubrick, who won his only Oscar for its special effects.
- #018
Geoffrey Unsworth started out as a camera assistant at Gaumont-British's Shepherds Bush studios, worked with Technicolor from 1937 and made his name with his first film as a full cinematographer, The Laughing Lady (1946).
- #019
Geoffrey Unsworth's daughter, Jackie Unsworth, accepted his Best Cinematography Oscar, shared with Ghislain Cloquet, at the 53rd Academy Awards.
Life & Family (2)
- #020
Geoffrey Unsworth died while shooting Tess (1979), having already filmed some scenes for Superman II (1980), shot at the same time as the first Superman (1978).
- #021
Maggie Unsworth was Geoffrey Unsworth's partner for the last twenty years of his life, but although many sources say they were married, no record of a marriage has been found, and a 1961 court order changing Margaret Edna Shipway's name to Unsworth suggests they never wed.
Related pages
- Star Wars — Geoffrey Unsworth comes up in the facts on that page
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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