Dick Pope dead: Oscar-nominated British cinematographer dies aged 77 as actor Tom Hardy leads tribute

The acclaimed filmmaker, known for his work on Mr Turner and The Illusionist, died in October 2024 and his death was confirmed by the British Society of Cinematographers.

In a statement, it said: "It is with deepest sadness that we learn of the passing of our friend and colleague Dick Pope BSC. Dick had a reputation for being a wonderful collaborator and someone who was passionate about the art form of cinematography. He was keen to embrace new technologies and ideas while also ensuring the skills and crafts of those that came before him weren’t lost."

Tributes to Pope have poured in, with actor Tom Hardy leading the emotional responses. The actor paid tribute to his "lovely friend" in a heartfelt message: "Dick Pope British Cinematographer lovely friend and all-round legend. Aug 1947 - October 2024." Other admirers remembered him as "Mike Leigh’s right-hand man" whose cinematographic style could range from "loose & naturalistic" to "expressionistic & haunting," as seen in films like Naked.

Pope was best known for his long-standing collaboration with award-winning director Mike Leigh. The pair worked together on 11 films, beginning with Life is Sweet in 1990. Their known joint projects included Secrets & Lies, Another Year, Peterloo, and Vera Drake.

Reflecting on their creative partnership, Pope once said: "I’ve always described it as a bit of a magical mystery tour, because you don’t really know what you’re getting into." Leigh, in turn, likened their relationship to a musician with a prized instrument: "A violinist who owns a Stradivarius is not going to arbitrarily use another fiddle. That is the tool and you can play anything with it."

Pope's filmography included The Way of the Gun (2000), Me and Orson Welles (2008), and Motherless Brooklyn (2019). His final credit was on Leigh's recent film, Hard Truths, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September. Leigh, 81, revealed that Pope had undergone "major heart surgery" before production began.

Pope is survived by his wife, Pat.