László Josef Willinger (16 April 1909 – 8 August 1989) was a Jewish-German photographer based in the United States, most noted for his portrait photography of film stars and celebrities starting in 1937.[1]
Willinger was born on 16 April 1909 in Berlin, Germany, or Budapest, Hungary, to Margaret Willinger, also a photographer.[2] Willinger established photographic studios in Paris and Berlin in 1929 and 1931 respectively, and at the same time submitted his photographs to various newspapers as a freelance contributor. He left Berlin in 1933 when Adolf Hitler became chancellor, settling and working in Vienna, where he began to photograph such celebrities as Marlene Dietrich, Hedy Lamarr, Pietro Mascagni, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Max Reinhardt.
By the mid-1930s, Willinger was travelling through Africa and Asia before being invited by studio photographer Eugene Robert Richee to move to the United States.
He sailed on the S/S Ile de France as a first cabin passenger, departing Le Havre, France, on 30 June 1937 and arriving at the Port of New York on 6 July. His nationality was recorded as Austrian. He entered the U.S. with a nonimmigrant visa. Eventually, he decided to stay. So, in accordance with American immigration regulations, he had to leave the country and then re-enter with an U.S. immigrant visa. He went to Mexico, got the visa, and re-crossed into the United States at Mexicali, Mexico, on 20 December 1937. He resided in Los Angeles, California.
After establishing a studio in Hollywood, California, Willinger became a frequent contributor to magazines and periodicals, providing magazine cover portraits of some of the most popular stars. Willinger was one of the first Hollywood photographers to experiment in the use of color.
In later years, shortly before his death, Willinger was accused of stalking some celebrities of the time, including Charlie Chaplin. An investigation into the matter led to the uncovering of thousands of personal pictures of the male comedy star.
^His Associated Press and Los Angeles Times obituary says that he was born in Budapest, Hungary but all the documents he signed for his naturalization, state under oath, that he was born in Berlin, Germany.
^Myrna Oliver (15 August 1989). "Laszlo Willinger; Hollywood Photographer". Los Angeles Times.
^"Laszlo Willinger – Person – National Portrait Gallery". National Portrait Gallery, London. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
External linksedit
Media related to László Josef Willinger at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
lászló, willinger, lászló, josef, willinger, april, 1909, august, 1989, jewish, german, photographer, based, united, states, most, noted, portrait, photography, film, stars, celebrities, starting, 1937, willinger, portrait, from, 1938, contents, biography, leg. Laszlo Josef Willinger 16 April 1909 8 August 1989 was a Jewish German photographer based in the United States most noted for his portrait photography of film stars and celebrities starting in 1937 1 Willinger portrait from 1938 Contents 1 Biography 2 Legacy 3 Gallery 4 References 5 External linksBiography editWillinger was born on 16 April 1909 in Berlin Germany or Budapest Hungary to Margaret Willinger also a photographer 2 Willinger established photographic studios in Paris and Berlin in 1929 and 1931 respectively and at the same time submitted his photographs to various newspapers as a freelance contributor He left Berlin in 1933 when Adolf Hitler became chancellor settling and working in Vienna where he began to photograph such celebrities as Marlene Dietrich Hedy Lamarr Pietro Mascagni Sigmund Freud Carl Jung and Max Reinhardt By the mid 1930s Willinger was travelling through Africa and Asia before being invited by studio photographer Eugene Robert Richee to move to the United States He sailed on the S S Ile de France as a first cabin passenger departing Le Havre France on 30 June 1937 and arriving at the Port of New York on 6 July His nationality was recorded as Austrian He entered the U S with a nonimmigrant visa Eventually he decided to stay So in accordance with American immigration regulations he had to leave the country and then re enter with an U S immigrant visa He went to Mexico got the visa and re crossed into the United States at Mexicali Mexico on 20 December 1937 He resided in Los Angeles California After establishing a studio in Hollywood California Willinger became a frequent contributor to magazines and periodicals providing magazine cover portraits of some of the most popular stars Willinger was one of the first Hollywood photographers to experiment in the use of color In later years shortly before his death Willinger was accused of stalking some celebrities of the time including Charlie Chaplin An investigation into the matter led to the uncovering of thousands of personal pictures of the male comedy star Willinger died of heart failure on 8 August 1989 at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles 1 3 Legacy editSeveral of his portraits are held in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery London 4 Gallery edit nbsp Studio portrait photo headshot of Donna Reed by Laszlo Willinger nbsp Studio portrait photo headshot of Edna May Oliver by Laszlo Willinger nbsp Studio portrait photo headshot of Luise Rainer by Laszlo Willinger for Metro Goldwyn Mayer ca 1937 References edit a b Hollywood Photographer Dies The Hour Associated Press 9 August 1989 His Associated Press and Los Angeles Times obituary says that he was born in Budapest Hungary but all the documents he signed for his naturalization state under oath that he was born in Berlin Germany Myrna Oliver 15 August 1989 Laszlo Willinger Hollywood Photographer Los Angeles Times Laszlo Willinger Person National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery London Retrieved 20 November 2020 External links edit nbsp Media related to Laszlo Josef Willinger at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Laszlo Willinger amp oldid 1112986589, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
