John Ayala Alonzo, ASC (June 12, 1934 â March 13, 2001) was an American cinematographer, television director, and actor. He was known for his naturalistic, cinéma vérité-inspired photography featured in several works of the New Hollywood movement. Later in his career, Alonzo innovated the use of high-definition video in television production.
He was nominated for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award for his work on Roman Polanski's film Chinatown (1974), and won an Primetime Emmy Award for the teleplay Fail Safe (2000). Alonzo also collaborated with directors like Martin Ritt, Brian De Palma, Hal Ashby, Mike Nichols, John Frankenheimer, and William Friedkin.
Alonzo was also the first American cinematographer of Mexican descent to become a member of the Cinematographer's Union in Los Angeles, as well as the first to be inducted into the ASC.
Alonzo was born in Dallas, Texas, as the son of Mexican immigrants Román Palomo Alonzo and MarÃÂa Alonzo, and was raised there and in Guadalajara, Mexico. He graduated from North Dallas High School in 1953.
Alonzo's career began as part of the clean-up crew at television station WFAA in Dallas. However, within a short time, he had made himself indispensable, not only building sets, hanging lights and moving cameras, but also directing cooking and children's shows. Eventually, he and actor Hank Williamson created a popular comedy duo: Alonzo became the voice and puppeteer of the irreverent "Señor Turtle," who with Williamson as his sidekick, introduced movies and cartoons. In 1956, the show was picked up by station KHJ in Hollywood, where it lasted only 26 weeks. So Alonzo worked for a time as a still photographer, and as an actor, with appearances in several well-known shows such as Twilight Zone (Season 2 â Episode 12 in "Dust" as Luis Gallegos), Combat!, 77 Sunset Strip, and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.
A seminal moment came during the shooting of The Magnificent Seven, in which Alonzo had a small role, when he met the cinematographer Charles Lang. This inspiring encounter, as well as the chance to briefly collaborate with James Wong Howe a few years later, finally gave Alonzo the impetus to devote his life to cinematography. He also cited director Martin Ritt as a mentor, whom he collaborated with seven times.
By the mid-1960s, he was photographing many documentaries for National Geographic and the David L. Wolper Company, and greatly influencing the innovative "Look" of the New Hollywood that became so powerful in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
His uncomplicated and minimalistic style, combined with his first-hand knowledge of acting, made him one of the most in-demand directors of photography in Hollywood. In addition, he was not only one of the best "hand-held" cameramen in Hollywood, but also a pioneer of high-def digital cinematography. In 1993/94 he shot (for NBC) the first HD movie in the history of American television, '.
Perhaps his best known student is two-time Oscar winner John Toll, who began his career as Alonzo's assistant on films like Black Sunday, Norma Rae, Tom Horn and Scarface.
Alonzo died in 2001 after a long illness, at home in Brentwood, California.
In 2007, director Axel Schill helmed a feature documentary about Alonzo, The Man Who Shot Chinatown â The Life & Work of John A. Alonzo.
Director
Cinematographer
<small>* Posthumous release</small>
Acting roles
TV movies
TV series
Acting credits
Film
Short film
TV movies
TV series