He later worked with director Todd Field on his films “Little Children” and “In the Bedroom.” He received a Cinema Audio Society award for his work. There were some sacrifices, but there were gains too.”Īfter Kubrick’s death in 1999, Vitali oversaw restorations for many of Kubrick’s films. “That’s the biggest conscious decision I’ve ever made.
“I made one truly, truly radical change in my life and that was when I said, ‘I’m more interested in that’ than I was in the acting,” Vitali told the Associated Press in 2017. His next Kubrick credit was as “personal assistant to the director” on “The Shining,” though that’s only part of the story - Vitali famously helped cast 4-year-old Danny Lloyd to play Danny Torrance and Louise and Lisa Burns as the creepy Grady twins (citing Diane Arbus as inspiration). Vitali was so fascinated by Kubrick and his processes that he made an unusual decision: He gave up on acting and devoted himself entirely to the famously demanding director for over two decades. He was a sweet, kind, humble, generous man and a vital part of Stanley Kubrick’s team.”īefore meeting Kubrick, Vitali was a rising actor in England, appearing in several British television shows including “Softly, Softly,” “Follyfoot,” “Z Cars” and “Notorious Woman.” Then in 1974 he got his biggest break yet, when he was cast in “Barry Lyndon” as Lord Bullingdon, the stepson of Ryan O’Neal’s title character. He helped me (asterisk)enormously(asterisk) with my Shining book and I’m gutted that he won’t see it. He exemplified & personified grace.”įilmmaker Lee Unkrich also tweeted that he was, “Completely heartbroken to hear about the passing of Leon Vitali. Leon Vitali was one such person in mine,” Modine wrote. “There are people we meet who have a profound impact upon our lives. Matthew Modine, who starred in Kubrick’s “Full Metal Jacket,” tweeted his condolences Sunday. Vitali even once set up a video monitor so that Kubrick could keep an eye on his dying cat.
Though Vitali was often described as Kubrick’s assistant, Tony Zierra’s 2017 documentary “ Filmworker ” shed light on Vitali’s enormous and largely unsung contributions to the work of one of cinema’s greatest figures from “The Shining” through “Eyes Wide Shut.” He did everything from casting and coaching actors to overseeing restorations. Vitali died Friday in Los Angeles, his family told The Associated Press Sunday. Leon Vitali, the “Barry Lyndon” actor who became one of Stanley Kubrick’s closest associates, has died.
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