John Coquillon

☆ Save On Wikipedia ↗
John Coquillon
Born29 July 1930[1]
The Hague, Netherlands
Died1987(1987-00-00) (aged 56–57)
OccupationCinematographer
Years active1956–1987

John Coquillon, BSC (29 July 1930–1987) was a Dutch-British cinematographer, best known internationally for his collaborations with director Sam Peckinpah. He won the Genie Award for Best Cinematography for his work on The Changeling (1980).[2]

Biography

Born in The Hague, Netherlands, Coquillon started in the British film industry as a Pinewood Studios clapper loader in the 1950s before becoming a documentary cameraman later in the decade shooting numerous wildlife movies throughout Africa. Coquillon relocated from Africa back to the UK in the mid-1960s, working on a number of Children's Film Foundation productions. His ability to work speedily and utilize natural light brought him to the attention of writer Alfred Shaughnessy, who recommended Coquillon to director Michael Reeves for Witchfinder General (1968), the first of several horror films that he worked on for American International Pictures.

In 1971, Coquillon began a fruitful working relationship with Sam Peckinpah, first serving as cinematographer for the controversial director's critically acclaimed Straw Dogs. He later shot Peckinpah's Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), Cross of Iron (1977), and The Osterman Weekend (1983). After Osterman, the majority of Coquillon's remaining credits were in television, including the television movie Ivanhoe (1982) and numerous miniseries.

Coquillon's other films include The Wilby Conspiracy (1975) and Clockwise (1986). He won the Best Cinematographer Genie Award in 1980 for The Changeling.

Filmography

Feature films

Television films

Awards and nominations

Award Year Category Work Result
Genie Award 1980 Best Achievement in Cinematography The Changeling Won

References

  1. "John Coquillon". Internet Encyclopedia of Cinematographers. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  2. "BSC Members | British Society of Cinematographers". bscine.com. Retrieved 29 March 2026.