Peter Ellenshaw, painter of ``Mary Poppins'' backgrounds, dies
AP
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Peter Ellenshaw, the visual effects pioneer who shared an Academy Award for his evocative paintings of London that served as the backdrop for the classic 1964 film "Mary Poppins," has died at age 93.
Ellenshaw died Monday of natural causes at his Santa Barbara home, The Walt Disney Co. said in a statement issued Wednesday.
Ellenshaw was perhaps best known for the hand-painted "mattes" he created for such films as "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," "Treasure Island" and "Darby O'Gill and the Little People."
Mattes are virtual movie sets against which either animated or live-action characters act. They were routinely painted on large pieces of glass before computers took over the job.
Ellenshaw started working for Disney in 1947 when he was hired to paint backgrounds for the studio's first live action film, "Treasure Island."
His best known works were the 102 paintings of Edwardian London he created for "Mary Poppins."
When the iconic nanny played by Julie Andrews flies over the city holding her umbrella, she is traversing a landscape pained by Ellenshaw.
"Long before the era of modern special effects, Peter was working his magic in Disney films," movie critic and historian Leonard Maltin said in a statement Wednesday. "And when you think that 'Mary Poppins' was made without anyone ever setting foot outside a soundstage - let alone visiting London - you get some idea of what he was able to pull off."
Ellenshaw, who was born in England in 1913, launched his film career after serving in the Royal Air Force during World War II, painting backgrounds for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film "Quo Vadis."
He worked on 34 films and numerous television shows for Disney, including the "Davy Crockett" and "Zorro" TV productions.
Ellenshaw was nominated for four Academy Awards, including for his work on "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" and "The Black Hole."
His wife of 58 years, Bobbie, died in 2000.
He is survived by two children, Lynda Ellenshaw Thompson, who also served as a visual effects producer, and Harrison Ellenshaw, whose visual effects work appeared in such films as "Star Wars: Episodes IV and V."
Funeral services will be private.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
02/14/07 18:33 EST
AP
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Peter Ellenshaw, the visual effects pioneer who shared an Academy Award for his evocative paintings of London that served as the backdrop for the classic 1964 film "Mary Poppins," has died at age 93.
Ellenshaw died Monday of natural causes at his Santa Barbara home, The Walt Disney Co. said in a statement issued Wednesday.
Ellenshaw was perhaps best known for the hand-painted "mattes" he created for such films as "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," "Treasure Island" and "Darby O'Gill and the Little People."
Mattes are virtual movie sets against which either animated or live-action characters act. They were routinely painted on large pieces of glass before computers took over the job.
Ellenshaw started working for Disney in 1947 when he was hired to paint backgrounds for the studio's first live action film, "Treasure Island."
His best known works were the 102 paintings of Edwardian London he created for "Mary Poppins."
When the iconic nanny played by Julie Andrews flies over the city holding her umbrella, she is traversing a landscape pained by Ellenshaw.
"Long before the era of modern special effects, Peter was working his magic in Disney films," movie critic and historian Leonard Maltin said in a statement Wednesday. "And when you think that 'Mary Poppins' was made without anyone ever setting foot outside a soundstage - let alone visiting London - you get some idea of what he was able to pull off."
Ellenshaw, who was born in England in 1913, launched his film career after serving in the Royal Air Force during World War II, painting backgrounds for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film "Quo Vadis."
He worked on 34 films and numerous television shows for Disney, including the "Davy Crockett" and "Zorro" TV productions.
Ellenshaw was nominated for four Academy Awards, including for his work on "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" and "The Black Hole."
His wife of 58 years, Bobbie, died in 2000.
He is survived by two children, Lynda Ellenshaw Thompson, who also served as a visual effects producer, and Harrison Ellenshaw, whose visual effects work appeared in such films as "Star Wars: Episodes IV and V."
Funeral services will be private.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
02/14/07 18:33 EST
