Renowned Mexican Cinematographer Dies

Gabriel Figueroa, a leading cinematographer who worked with the great performers and directors of Mexico’s “Golden Age of Film” as well as famous U.S. artists, has died at age 89.

Figueroa died Sunday after suffering a stroke, family members and friends said.

The Mexico City native made more than 200 films and won numerous international awards.

His career began in the 1930s when he studied cinematography in the United States with Gregg Toland, who filmed “Citizen Kane” and “Wuthering Heights.”

Among Figueroa’s top achievements were awards at the Cannes Film Festival for his work on “Maria Candelaria” in 1946, starring Dolores del Rio, and “Macario” in 1960. His work on John Huston’s “Night of the Iguana” in 1964 earned him an Academy Award nomination.

Early in his career, Figueroa’s artistry with the camera so dazzled the film world that the term “Figueroa skies” became a common one in the industry. It describes images of striking cloud formations on black-and-white film.