Jack Cardiff
Film & Theater Personalities

Jack Cardiff Net Worth


Jack Cardiff is a member of Film & Theater Personalities

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Cinematographer, Film Director
Birth Day September 18, 1914
Birth Place Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, UK, British
Age 106 YEARS OLD
Died On 22 April 2009(2009-04-22) (aged 94)\nEly, Cambridgeshire, UK
Birth Sign Libra
Occupation Actor, cinematographer, director, photographer
Years active 1918–2007

💰 Net worth: $950,000 (2024)

Jack Cardiff, a prominent British cinematographer and film director, has an estimated net worth of $950,000 in 2024. Known for his exceptional skills behind the camera, Cardiff has made significant contributions to the world of cinematography. Throughout his career, he has worked on numerous influential films, showcasing his expertise in capturing breathtaking visuals and creating captivating storytelling through his craft. With his extensive experience and artistic vision, it is no surprise that his net worth reflects his success in the film industry. Jack Cardiff's legacy as a pioneering figure in cinematography continues to inspire filmmakers worldwide.

Biography/Timeline

1918

He worked as an actor from an early age, both in the music hall and in a number of silent films: My Son, My Son (1918), Billy's Rose (1922), The Loves of Mary, Queen of Scots (1923) and Tiptoes (1927). At 15, he began working as a camera assistant, clapper boy and production Runner for British International Pictures, including Hitchcock's The Skin Game (1931).

1935

Jack Cardiff was the camera operator and then Cinematographer for 73 films, documentaries and TV series between 1935 and 2007. These are some of the main films:

1943

The turning point in his career was as a 2nd unit cameraman on Powell & Pressburger's The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943); they were sufficiently impressed to hire Cardiff as Cinematographer on their post-war Technicolor A Matter of Life and Death (1946). Their collaboration continued with Black Narcissus (1947), which won Cardiff an Oscar and a Golden Globe, and The Red Shoes (1948). These films put Cardiff's talents in high demand, and a string of big-budget films followed.

1950

In the late 1950s Cardiff began to direct, with two modest successes in Intent to Kill (1958) and Web of Evidence (1959). His version of D. H. Lawrence's novel Sons and Lovers (1960), starring Trevor Howard, Wendy Hiller and Dean Stockwell, was a hit, critically and at the box-office. It received seven Oscar nominations (including a Best Director nomination for Cardiff) and Freddie Francis won for Best Black-and-White Cinematography. Cardiff received a Golden Globe Award for Best Director.

1960

After concentrating on direction in the 1960s, he returned to cinematography in the 1970s and 1980s, working on mainstream commercial films in the United States. One of the last films Cardiff photographed was at Pinewood Studios in 2004 when he lit veteran actor Sir John Mills in a short entitled Lights 2 (dir. Marcus Dillistone). The combined age of leading actor and Cinematographer was a record 186 years. A feature-length documentary was made about Cardiff's life and career, Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff (2010) by Craig McCall.

1995

In 1995, the British Society of Cinematographers conferred a lifetime achievement award on Cardiff.

2000

In 2000 he was awarded an OBE and in 2001 he was awarded an Honorary Oscar for his contribution to the cinema.

2009

Cardiff died on 22 April 2009, aged 94, the same day as Ken Annakin, with whom he had worked on The Fifth Musketeer (1979). He was survived by his wife and his four sons.

2010

It took 17 years to make but wasn't completed or released until after Cardiff had died. As well as many interviews with Cardiff, it included tributes from Mills, Martin Scorsese, Thelma Schoonmaker, Kathleen Byron, Kim Hunter, Moira Shearer, Lauren Bacall, Charlton Heston and Kirk Douglas. It was selected for the official selection of Cannes Classics at the Festival de Cannes in 2010, as well as four other important film festivals that year.

2014

Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff was shown as part of the Great Yarmouth Arts Festival 2014 along with some of his photographs, often taken as preliminaries to lighting the films. Further celebrations to mark his birth date took place in September – particularly at the Time and Tide Museum in Great Yarmouth.

Some Jack Cardiff images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.