Roddy McDowall (1928 - 1998)
Actor and photographer Roddy McDowall was born Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall in London and enjoyed early success in several pre-war British films. McDowall and his mother emigrated to the United States in 1940 and settled in Hollywood, where he continued his career in several highly regarded feature films.
McDowall was also a lifelong photography enthusiast and in time became an accomplished portrait photographer whose pictures colleagues and friends spanned several decades and resulted in the publication of four books of these images under the series title Double Exposure. His work was intimate in character, since virtually all of his subjects were friends and entirely at their ease in front of his camera. A remarkably popular and talented individual, McDowall served on the executive boards of the Screen Actors Guild and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences until his death at Studio City, California.
Buster Keaton
Selenium toned silver gelatin print, photographed at Beverly Hills, California in 1965. Numbered 7/175 from a later printing. Signed by McDowall in ink in the lower margin. Image size 9-7/8" x 14-1/16"; sheet size 16" x 20". A portrait of the famous vaudevillian and silent film actor holding a photograph of himself taken in 1900. Fine.
SOLD
Alec Guinness
Selenium toned silver gelatin print, photographed at New York City in 1964. Numbered 11/125 from a later printing. Signed by McDowall in ink in the lower margin. Image size 9-5/8" x 14-1/16"; sheet size 16" x 20". A whimsical portrait of the great actor in a tongue-in-cheek thoughtful moment with a sandal atop his head. Fine.
$825
Paul Newman
Selenium toned silver gelatin print, photographed at Beverly Hills in 1965. Numbered 19/125 from a later printing. Signed by McDowall in ink in the lower margin. Image size 10-11/16" x 13-9/16"; sheet size 16" x 20". A reflective portrait of the actor.
$925
Sophia Loren
Selenium toned silver gelatin print, photographed at London in 1966. Numbered 7/175 from a later printing. Signed by McDowall in ink in the lower margin. Image size 13¾" x 10-7/8"; sheet size 16" x 20". A relaxed portrait of the celebrated actress and apotheosis of feminine beauty. Fine.
$1100