NEW YORK — Photojournalist Steve Schapiro, who photographed the March on Washington in 1963, Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination and produced stills for iconic movies like “The Godfather,” died Saturday. He was 87.
Schapiro died at his home in Chicago from pancreatic cancer, spokesperson Heidi Schaeffer told The Associated Press.
The photographer covered the civil rights movement, including the march from Selma to Montgomery, and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign in 1968, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
This 1965 photograph was taken by Steve Schapiro, who died this past weekend at age 87 on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ninety-third birthday: pic.twitter.com/6uhIpNghyU
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) January 17, 2022
Schapiro also shot album cover portraits for Barbra Streisand and David Bowie, the website reported.
He produced advertising materials, publicity stills and posters for movies including “Midnight Cowboy” (1969), “The Godfather” (1972), “The Way We Were” (1973), “Taxi Driver” (1976), “The Man Who Fell to Earth” (1976), “Risky Business” (1983) and “Billy Madison” (1995), according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Remembering Steve Schapiro (1934–2022), whose prize-winning photographs defined 20th century American life, via @MagazineBlind: https://t.co/K7FeqUKQwC
— Miss Rosen (@Miss_Rosen) January 17, 2022
Photo: Steve Schapiro. On the Road, Selma March, 1965. All photos courtesy of @Monroegallery. pic.twitter.com/Y6CtXmZutA
The New York native discovered photography at age 9 while at summer camp, the website reported. He studied with photojournalist W. Eugene Smith and began shooting photos as a freelancer in 1961.
Schapiro’s work appeared in Time, Rolling Stone and Life, the AP reported.
RIP Steve Schapiro. Thank you for your astounding images, in particular this one of David Bowie. #BowieForever pic.twitter.com/HL6bAQKJJl
— David Bowie Glamour (@DavidBowieGlam) January 16, 2022
“Selma” filmmaker Ava Duvernay said Schapiro’s work was important to the civil rights movement.
“He photographed the March on Washington and Selma to Montgomery march,” Duvernay told the AP. “His images moved minds during a crucial time.”
Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Maura Smith; sons Theophilus Donoghue and Adam Shapiro, and daughters Elle Harvey and Taylor Schapiro, the news outlet reported.
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