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How did Bill Butler die? Hollywood remembers 'Jaws' cinematographer after his death at 101

Filmmaker Tom Holland said, 'He was a genius behind the lens. Couldn’t have made Child’s Play without him. RIP my friend'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Hollywood cinematographer Bill Butler died on Wednesday, April 5, in Los Angeles, California. The news of the ‘Jaws’ cinematographer’s death was announced by the American Society of Cinematographers. He is survived by his wife Iris Butler and five daughters.

Wilmer C Butler, lovingly referred to as Bill Butler by his friends and fans alike, was born on April 7, 1921, in Colorado. He began working as an engineer in a local radio station. He started his Hollywood career in 1962 and worked till 2016. His cause of death is currently unknown.

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Steven Spielberg paid homage to the cinematographer by saying, “Bill Butler was the bedrock on that rickety, rocking boat called the Orca," before adding, "He was the only calm in the middle of that storm, and as we went into a battle against nature and technology that wore both of us down, the audience eventually won the war..." The Sun reports, the director also added, "Bill’s outlook on life was pragmatic, philosophical and so very patient, and I owe him so much for his steadfast and creative contributions to the entire look of ‘Jaws.’”

Filmography

Bill Butler has been the director of photography for numerous award-winning movies and has collaborated with the directors like Joseph Sargent, Philip Kaufman, Richard Donner, Sylvester Stallone, Ivan Reitman, Tobe Hooper, Mike Nichols, Francis Coppola, John Cassavetes, and Steven Spielberg.

Butler has been the cinematographer for Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘The Rain People’ (1969) and ‘The Conversation’ (1974). Peter Hyams ‘Capricorn One’ (1977), Randal Kleiser’s hit musical 'Grease' (1978). Butler was associated with three films of the Sylvester Stallone directed ‘Rocky’ franchise - 'Rocky II' (1979), 'Rocky III' (1982), and 'Rocky IV' (1985). 

The celebrated cinematographer’s claim to fame was however ‘Jaws’ directed by Steven Spielberg. After working with Spielberg on his television dramas, ‘Something Evil’ (1972) and ‘Savage’ (1973), the duo collaborated on ‘Jaws’.

He was also associated with films like ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest’ (1975), ‘Ice Castles’ (1978); musical ‘Can’t Stop the Music’, ‘Stripes’ (1981), and ‘Anaconda’ (1997)

He received Emmy Awards for 'Raid on Entebbe' and the television version of 'A Streetcar Named Desire'. Butler was also an Oscar nominee for 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'

'Genius behind the lens'

Filmmaker Tom Holland said, "He was a genius behind the lens. Couldn’t have made Child’s Play without him. RIP my friend." Award-winning film critic Travis Johnson remembered, "Just one of the best shots in film history. Not simply the technique - it's perfectly placed in the film. It's only used once. It's the "shit has hit the fan" moment. Superb. Vale, Bill Butler." 'The Kings Cast' host Scott Wampler reacted, "RIP to cinematographer Bill Butler, a legend. Looks like JAWS shout-outs are well covered so I'll point you towards Coppola's THE CONVERSATION ('74), one of my top 10 favorite movies. Off the charts banger. If you've never seen it, throw it on tonight and go in completely blind."

One fan commented, "RIP Bill Butler. A master cinematographer whose touch and precision made films even more special! So many incredible movies under his belt!" "RIP to the great Bill Butler, who gave us, along with countless other classic shots, this beauty," commented one user with an iconic shot from 'Jaws'. Another eulogy read, "Bill Butler died leaving behind a filmography that could be studied for three lifetimes, lensing some of your favorite classics without you possibly even knowing. He danced across damn near every genre, giving us an eyeful of adventure, terror, romance, comedy, and beyond."