Stanley Kubrick’s longtime partner and collaborator, Leon Vitali, passed away on Friday, August 19 at the age of 74 in Los Angeles. His death was confirmed by his family to the Associated Press. At the time of his death, the actor had three children, Maša, Maks and Vera with him. Although the family did not disclose the cause of death, Vitali is said to have passed away quietly.
After his death, Masha Vitali made the following statement to the Associated Press:
“Leon is a wonderful and charming guy who brings love and warmth everywhere, inspired by his curiosity.” He will be fondly and deeply missed by the many individuals he touched.”
Everything about Leon Vitali
Leon Vitali is an English actor best known for appearing in Stanley Kubrick’s films such as Barry Lyndon in 1977 and Eyes Wide Shut in 1999. He has also worked as Kubrick’s assistant in The Shining, Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut, among others.
Leon Vitali was considered Stanley Kubrick’s right-hand man for many years. They met in 1974, probably during the filming of Barry Lyndon (in which Vitali played Lord Bullingdon). After their first collaboration, Vitali was said to have had a relationship with Kubrick during production, and was later asked to join the legendary director in adapting Stephen King’s The Shining. Vitali worked as Kubrick’s assistant throughout the production.
Then, in the 1987 film Full Metal Jacket, Vitali served as both the casting director and Kubrick’s assistant. Vitali was again cast as Kubrick’s director and assistant in his last film, Eyes Wide Shut in 1990, and again played the role of Red Cloak. In the film, Vitali is also served as an Easter egg by a newspaper. A newspaper column was read by Tom Cruise’s character, Dr. William Harford, calling Vitali “fashion designer Leon Vitali.”
According to Tony Zierra’s 2017 documentary Vitali, Filmworker, the British actor managed the restoration of Stanley Kubrick’s films after his death. The documentary says that Vitali highlighted Kubrick’s personal assistant position in his acting career.
The Associated Press reports:
“Vitali even set up a video monitor so Kubrick could keep an eye on his dying pet for once.”
Leon Vitali makes his debut in the industry
From 1970 to 2018, the 74-year-old late man attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and acted in films. Leon Vitali starred in several television shows in seasons once in the early 1970s before landing a role in The Fenn Street Gang in 1971. For 16 episodes, he played Peter Craven.
Vitali played Victor Frankenstein in the legendary 1977 film Terror of Frankenstein, two years after his first work with Stanley Kubrick. Vitali met his future wife, costume designer Kersti Vitali (née Gustafsson), while working on the film. They have three children together. Although not proven, Kersta’s IMDb page indicates that the two divorced at some point.
Categories: Entertaintment
Source: newstars.edu.vn