James J. Murakami – Emmy-winning artwork director for Deadwood and frequent Clint Eastwood collaborator – passes away at 91

The manufacturing world is in mourning on Thursday, with the information that Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated artwork director James J. Murakami has handed away.

Murakami is finest recognized for his Emmy-winning work because the artwork director on HBO’s Deadwood, and his many collaborations with Clint Eastwood.

He handed on December 15 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Middle in Los Angeles after problems from a fall, his spouse Ginger confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.

Murakami was born in June 1931 in Sacramento, California, spending most of his childhood in Campbell, California.

He and his household have been interred at a conflict relocation camp all through World Warfare II, and after the conflict ended, he moved to Venice, California.  

He attended Venice Excessive Faculty and went on to check on the Chouinard Artwork Institute, as he honed his abilities to realize his purpose of designing for movement photos

Born: Murakami was born in June 1931 in Sacramento, California, spending most of his childhood in Campbell, California

With no connections to his identify, he began out working for architects as a delineator and guide.

He bought his begin in strikes and tv with a job at ZIV Studio, the place he spent quite a few years in varied artwork departments.

His first film job was as Assistant Artwork Director for Dean Tavoularis on The Godfather: Half II in 1974, who he additionally assisted on 1979’s Apocalypse Now.

Connections: With no connections to his identify, he began out working for architects as a delineator and guide

He additionally served as an artwork director on episodes of Battlestar Galactica in 1979 and different hit motion pictures comparable to WarGames, Beverly Hills Cop, Midnight Run, True Romance, Crimson Tide, The Sport and Enemy of the State, earlier than profitable an Emmy for his artwork route on HBO’s Deadwood.

Murakami additionally served as a set designer for manufacturing designer/artwork director Henry Burnstead on Clint Eastwood’s 1992 basic Western Unforgiven, which began an extended relationship with the director.

He additionally served as artwork director on Eastwood’s 1997 movie Midnight within the Backyard of Good and Evil earlier than beginning his profession as a manufacturing designer on 2006’s Letters From Iwo Jima. 

Artwork director: He additionally served as an artwork director on episodes of Battlestar Galactica in 1979 and different hit motion pictures comparable to WarGames, Beverly Hills Cop, Midnight Run, True Romance, Crimson Tide, The Sport and Enemy of the State, earlier than profitable an Emmy for his artwork route on HBO’s Deadwood

Murakami earned sole Oscar nomination for his work as manufacturing designer on 2008’s Changeling, turning into Eastwood’s common designer.

They labored collectively on 2008’s Gran Torino, 2009’s Invictus, 2010’s Hereafter, 2011’s J. Edgar, 2012’s Bother With the Curve, 2014’s Jersey Boys and American Sniper and 2016’s Sully, after which he retired, incomes the Artwork Administrators Guild Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

Murakami is survived by his spouse of 34 years, Ginger, their daughter, Patricia, and stepchildren John and Sandee.

LIfetime: They labored collectively on 2008’s Gran Torino, 2009’s Invictus, 2010’s Hereafter, 2011’s J. Edgar, 2012’s Bother With the Curve, 2014’s Jersey Boys and American Sniper and 2016’s Sully, after which he retired, incomes the Artwork Administrators Guild Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018