David Keighley obit

David Keighley Dies: Key Force Behind Imax’s Global Rise Was 77

 

He was not on the list.

David Keighley, a long-tenured champion of the Imax Experience and a pioneer in film presentation, died in New York August 28 following a battle with cancer. He was 77.

His death was announced by Imax CEO Rich Gelfond.

Keighley has served for the last 15 years as Imax’s first-ever Chief Quality Officer, rounding out several decades of work with the company. He oversaw post-production for more than 500 Imax films ranging from blockbusters to nature documentaries, and was a trusted partner to some of the world’s most lauded filmmakers, including Christopher Nolan.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend David, a treasured member of the Imax family for more than 50 years,” said Gelfond. “David was as close to the human embodiment of Imax as there has ever been, relentless in his drive to deliver awe-inspiring images to audiences around the globe. He was incredibly energized and proud of his work on the upcoming The Odyssey, completing his review of the dailies just days before his death in a bittersweet but fitting capstone to a remarkable career. We extend our deepest condolences to David’s wife, Patricia, and his family, and our enduring gratitude to David for everything he’s done for Imax and the art of filmmaking.”

Keighley first entered the giant screen industry in 1972, alongside his wife and business partner, Patricia. Inspired by their experience watching Imax’s North of Superior, the newlyweds founded large-format post-production company David Keighley Productions. In 1972, the Keighleys co-directed the Imax film Catch the Sun. They quickly formed a lasting partnership with Imax, working on every one of the company’s releases thereafter. For decades, no Imax film print left the lab without Keighley’s personal approval.

In 1988, DKP 70MM was acquired by Imax, and both Keighleys formally joined its team. Keighley’s exacting work helped grow the company from a niche short film format to a global leader in premium cinema experiences. At the Imax offices in Los Angeles, the company’s premier theater is named the “David Keighley Theater,” dedicated in a ceremony by Christopher Nolan in 2015. Just three weeks ago, Keighley completed work reviewing the dailies for Christopher Nolan’s upcoming The Odyssey, which will be the first theatrical release ever shot entirely with Imax film cameras.

Said Nolan in a statement, “His keen eye and uncompromising standards meant that audiences were treated to the best possible experience of our films — a massive part of their impact.”

Keighley was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a participant in its Science & Technology Awards Committee. He was a member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), a Life Fellow of the SMPTE and a recipient of its Herbert T. Kalmus Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Color Motion Pictures. He received the Giant Screen Theater Association’s inaugural Special Achievement in Film Award, and he was later honored alongside his wife with the organization’s Outstanding Achievement Award, in recognition of their lasting impact on the industry.

“Some people are irreplaceable,” said Dune director Denis Villeneuve. “David Keighley is one of them. Cinema is mourning one of its most brilliant technical masters.”

Keighley is survived by his wife Patricia, children Geoff, Chris and Jennifer, and grandchildren Sam and Eli.