Iconic cinematographer Roger Pratt has died aged 77.

The British star, who was nominated for an Oscar in 1999, passed away in December, with his death confirmed by the British Society of Cinematographers this week.

His cause and date of death has not been revealed at this time. 

Pratt’s impressive body of work includes Batman (1989), Frankenstein (1994), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Troy (2004), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), Inkheart (2008) and The Karate Kid (2010).

His stellar work was honored with a nomination for Best Cinematography at the Oscars for The End of the Affair, starring Ralph Fiennes and Julianne Moore.

He also picked up BAFTA nominations in 1999 and 2000 for The End of the Affair and Chocolat starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. 

Iconic cinematographer Roger Pratt has died aged 77 – pictured 2004

Pratt’s impressive body of work includes Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002 – pictured)

He frequently collaborated with Monty Python legend Terry Gilliam with the pair first meeting on the set of 1975’s Monty Python and the Holy Grail when Pratt worked as a clapper loader.

Gilliam recalled about meeting Pratt: ‘We were filming the Bridge of Death sequence and needed a dramatic shot looking up at the bridge with the mountains in the distance. I stuck the camera on the edge of the cliff, but the lens wasn’t wide enough. We were a long way from the road, the light was going. It was terrible.

‘This guy said, ‘Just give me a moment’ and in a few minutes, while we were still faffing around, he had run all the way down the mountain, forded the river, run up the other side, into the camera truck, grabbed the right lens and here it was. We stuck it on the camera and got the shot. That was the moment I fell in love with Roger.’

Pratt and Gilliam would work on Brazil (1985), The Fisher King (1991) and 12 Monkeys (1995)

The BSC’s tribute read: ‘The son of a parish vicar, the church didn’t capture his career aspirations, seeing 16mm ‘fact and faith’ films did.

‘Roger would go on to shoot some of Gilliam’s cult classics, from Brazil (1985) to The Fisher King (1991) and 12 Monkey’s (1995).

‘Our thoughts go out to his family at this time.’

Pratt, the son of a vicar grew up in the Midlands and attended Loughborough Grammar School.

His first exposure to film came as he watched religious movies in church, with the ‘mesmerized’ star saying: ‘A box full of rolls of film, projectors, screens, loudspeakers. The lights go out, the whirring of mechanics…then real people talking, moving, laughing, and dying (I mention dying because they were about Christ and his crucifixion).

The British star, who was nominated for an Oscar in 1999, passed away in December, with his death confirmed by the British Society of Cinematographers this week – pictured 1995

Pratt is pictured with director Mike Leigh on the set of 1988’s High Hopes 

Pratt worked with Tim Burton on developing the look for 1989’s Batman starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson

His stellar work was honored with a nomination for Best Cinematography at the Oscars for The End of the Affair, starring Ralph Fiennes and Julianne Moore 

He also picked up BAFTA nominations in 1999 and 2000 for The End of the Affair and Chocolat starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp 

He studied at Durham University in 1966 and graduated from the General Arts programme in 1969, before enrolling at the London Film School.

He frequently worked with director Lord Richard Attenborough, lending his expertise to Shadowlands (1993), In Love and War (1996) and Grey Owl (1999).

In 2023 Pratt was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the BSC.

In a speech marking his award, Billy Williams OBE BSC said: ‘I’m delighted that Roger Pratt is to be honoured with the BSC lifetime achievement award this year. In focusing on the drama and the storyline [he] has created the visuals for a variety of so many memorable films. I send him my congratulations and warmest good wishes.’

Kenneth Branagh, who starred in Pratt’s Frankenstein in 1994, said: ‘One of the few authenticated 100% top-to-toe geniuses in his field I have met. I couldn’t have done it without you. Love and admiration.’

Julianne Moore wrote: ‘I just wanted to tell you how wonderful your work is in End of the Affair. The lighting is so textured and emotional, and honestly, I have never looked better in my life!… I wish I could make all my movies with you!’

After working with Robin Williams on The Fisher King in 1994, the actor wrote in a book to Pratt: ‘Roger, if you have the smoke, I’ve got the lines. Thank you again, you are incredible.’