Leon Vitali

Leon Vitali, the “Barry Lyndon” actor who became one of Stanley Kubrick's closest associates, has died.

But when they finally met Vitali to make the film, they were struck by “his kindness, humility and the fascinating scope of his story.” Vitali later worked with director Todd Field on his films “Little Children” and “In the Bedroom.” Vitali was so fascinated by Kubrick and his processes that he made an unusual decision: He gave up on acting and devoted himself entirely to the famously demanding director for over two decades. Filmmaker Lee Unkrich also tweeted that he was, “Completely heartbroken to hear about the passing of Leon Vitali. “That’s the biggest conscious decision I’ve ever made. Vitali even once set up a video monitor so that Kubrick could keep an eye on his dying cat.

Leon Vitali, the actor who played Lord Bullingdon in "Barry Lyndon" before becoming Stanley Kubrick's assistant, has died. He was 74.

Vitali’s work in the film industry also extended beyond his relationship with Kubrick. While “Barry Lyndon” didn’t establish Vitali as a regular performer, it did lead to the actor fostering a deep relationship with Kubrick, who allowed Vitali to oversee the editing process of the film after principal photography was completed. “Filmworker” premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. As a screen actor, Vitali is best-known for his performance in Kubrick’s period black comedy. Our thoughts are with his family and all that new and loved him. “Our thoughts are with his family.”

Leon Vitali, who starred in Stanley Kubrick's film Barry Lyndon and regularly collaborated with him thereafter, has died at 74.

[Full Metal Jacket](https://www.slashfilm.com/809204/stanley-kubrick-and-matthew-modine-had-an-intense-stand-off-while-filming-full-metal-jacket/)" and "Eyes Wide Shut," but he also was hired as a casting director for both of those pictures as well, even being the sole one credited on "Full Metal Jacket." Having been an actor in a Kubrick film himself, Vitali probably knew how to find the people with the right faces, energies, and temperaments that could gel with Kubrick's unique and demanding production process. Leon Vitali had a rare career in the film industry, observing the moviemaking process from all sides as he bounced around from position to position. [Stanley Kubrick Twitter account](https://twitter.com/StanleyKubrick/status/1561305522267103233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1561305522267103233%7Ctwgr%5Efca55f15e90f92a3d85a07e2b042d498064924ae%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fvariety.com%2F2022%2Ffilm%2Fobituaries-people-news%2Fleon-vitali-dead-barry-lyndon-stanley-kubrick-1235346727%2F), Vitali "passed away peacefully in his sleep last night." First, there was "The Shining," where Vitali served as Kubrick's own personal assistant. In reality, he had a whole host of collaborators around him to aid in bringing that vision to life.

Actor, Leon Vitali who was best known for collaborating with acclaimed Oscar-winning director Stanley Kubrick has passed on. Vitali's death was announced ...

Fresh out of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Vitali, a native of Warwickshire, England began his career by taking bit parts in a number of British TV programs including Softly, Softly, Follyfoot, and Roads to Freedom. Ahead of work on the production, Kubrick sent Vitali a copy of the Stephen King book from which the movie is adapted inviting him to work with him on the film. The admiration was mutual and both struck an off-screen bromance that lasted for the rest of Kubrick's life. Safe to say Kubrick and Vitali were ahead of their time. "It is with the greatest of sadness that we have to tell you that the mainstay of a vast number of Kubrick's films, Leon Vitali, passed away peacefully last night," the tweet read. The tweet revealed that Vitali passed away peacefully on the night of 20th August.

Vitali, who gave up acting to become the demanding director's right-hand man, died in Los Angeles on Friday.

But when he finally met Vitali to make the film, he was struck by “his kindness, humility and the fascinating scope of his story”. He later worked with the director Todd Field on his films Little Children and In the Bedroom. He was a sweet, kind, humble, generous man and a vital part of Stanley Kubrick’s team.” “Leon was a special and lovely man driven by his curiosity, who spread love and warmth wherever he went,” his children said. “He helped me enormously with my Shining book and I’m gutted that he won’t see it. He died peacefully surrounded by loved ones including his three children, Masha, Max and Vera.

Leon Vitali, star of two acclaimed Stanley Kubrick films and the iconic director's righthand man, has died. He was 74.

Leon Vitali, who starred in Stanley Kubrick's 'Barry Lyndon' and went on to become one of the famed director's closest associates, has died.

But when they finally met Vitali to make the film, they were struck by “his kindness, humility and the fascinating scope of his story.” [There were some sacrifices](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-capsule-filmworker-review-20180517-story.html), but there were gains too.” [After Kubrick’s death in 1999](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-12-ca-9258-story.html), Vitali oversaw restorations for many of Kubrick’s films. “He will be remembered with love and be hugely missed by the many people he touched.” “That’s the biggest conscious decision I’ve ever made. He helped me *enormously* with my Shining book and I’m gutted that he won’t see it. Vitali even once set up a video monitor so that Kubrick could keep an eye on his dying cat.

Leon Vitali, the “Barry Lyndon” actor who became one of Stanley Kubrick's closest associates, has died. He was 74. Vitali died Friday in Los Angeles, ...

But when they finally met Vitali to make the film, they were struck by “his kindness, humility and the fascinating scope of his story.” Vitali was so fascinated by Kubrick and his processes that he made an unusual decision: He gave up on acting and devoted himself entirely to the famously demanding director for over two decades. [Lee Unkrich](/storiesByEntityId/630343b32d63aa0eb99270cc/Lee Unkrich) also tweeted that he was, “Completely heartbroken to hear about the passing of Leon Vitali. [Tony Zierra](/storiesByEntityId/630343b32d63aa0eb99270c8/Tony Zierra)’s 2017 documentary “ [Filmworker](https://apnews.com/article/ee55356bd42b4e909d958c7a2b38cc5a) ” shed light on Vitali’s enormous and largely unsung contributions to the work of one of cinema’s greatest figures from “The Shining” through “Eyes Wide Shut.” He did everything from casting and coaching actors to overseeing restorations. [Matthew Modine](/storiesByEntityId/630343b32d63aa0eb99270c7/Matthew Modine), who starred in Kubrick’s “Full Metal Jacket,” tweeted his condolences Sunday. He passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones including his three children, Masha, Max and Vera.

Leon Vitali, the “Barry Lyndon” actor who became one of Stanley Kubrick's closest associates, has died. He was 74. Vitali died Friday in Los Angeles, ...

But when they finally met Vitali to make the film, they were struck by “his kindness, humility and the fascinating scope of his story.” Vitali was so fascinated by Kubrick and his processes that he made an unusual decision: He gave up on acting and devoted himself entirely to the famously demanding director for over two decades. [Lee Unkrich](/storiesByEntityId/630343b32d63aa0eb99270cc/Lee Unkrich) also tweeted that he was, “Completely heartbroken to hear about the passing of Leon Vitali. [Tony Zierra](/storiesByEntityId/630343b32d63aa0eb99270c8/Tony Zierra)’s 2017 documentary “ [Filmworker](https://apnews.com/article/ee55356bd42b4e909d958c7a2b38cc5a) ” shed light on Vitali’s enormous and largely unsung contributions to the work of one of cinema’s greatest figures from “The Shining” through “Eyes Wide Shut.” He did everything from casting and coaching actors to overseeing restorations. [Matthew Modine](/storiesByEntityId/630343b32d63aa0eb99270c7/Matthew Modine), who starred in Kubrick’s “Full Metal Jacket,” tweeted his condolences Sunday. He passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones including his three children, Masha, Max and Vera.

The star of Barry Lyndon who went on to become Kubrick's right-hand man passed away at age 74.

[Romeo & Juliet](http://avclub.com/film/reviews/romeo-and-juliet-2013), and collaborated with filmmaker Todd Field on his movies [Little Children](http://avclub.com/film/reviews/little-children-2006) and [In The Bedroom](http://avclub.com/film/reviews/in-the-bedroom-2001). In Kubrick’s final movie, [Eyes Wide Shut](http://avclub.com/film/reviews/eyes-wide-shut-1999), Vitali stepped in front of the camera again to play Red Cloak. Vitali also remained committed to Kubrick’s legacy and supervised the restoration of many of the director’s films. Recalling his commitment to the famously demanding director, he shared (per [IndieWire](https://www.indiewire.com/2022/08/leon-vitali-dead-stanley-kubrick-collaborator-1234754156/)), “I’d work 14, 16 hour shifts, seven days a week. He largely retired from acting to work with the director behind the scenes for the rest of Kubrick’s career. His most prominent role came in 1975 playing the role of Lord Bullingdon in Kubrick’s film

Leon Vitali, the “Barry Lyndon” actor who became one of Stanley Kubrick's closest associates, has died. He was 74.

But when they finally met Vitali to make the film, they were struck by “his kindness, humility and the fascinating scope of his story.” He later worked with director Todd Field on his films “Little Children” and “In the Bedroom.” “He will be remembered with love and be hugely missed by the many people he touched.” Vitali was so fascinated by Kubrick and his processes that he made an unusual decision: He gave up on acting and devoted himself entirely to the famously demanding director for over two decades. Filmmaker Lee Unkrich also tweeted that he was, "Completely heartbroken to hear about the passing of Leon Vitali. Vitali even once set up a video monitor so that Kubrick could keep an eye on his dying cat.

Leon Vitali worked with Stanley Kubrick and other legends of film and television. One of his last performances also saw him team up with two big Marvel ...

Steinfeld recently debuted in the MCU as Kate Bishop on Disney+'s "Hawkeye" series. [Leon Vitali had passed away](https://www.looper.com/973835/the-devastating-death-of-leon-vitali/) at the age of 74. Toward the latter stages of his career, Vitali was more selective with his roles and only stepped before the camera every few years.

'Full Metal Jacket' actor Vincent D'Onofrio said Leon Vitali was 'one of the most authentic human beings I've ever met'

[Ryan O'Neal](https://people.com/tag/ryan-oneal/)'s title character, Vitali was just getting to know the director when he asked him to talk one day. "I made one truly, truly radical change in my life and that was when I said, 'I'm more interested in that' than I was in the acting," Vitali told the AP in 2017. Vitali previously told Rolling Stone he thought he was getting fired, but instead the director called him out for being "extremely focused." There were some sacrifices, but there were gains too." Vitali is also credited with convincing the late R. Vitali's vision and contributions are evident in movies ranging from The Shining to Eyes Wide Shut, say movie industry insiders.

Cinema veteran and Stanley Kubrick's longtime assistant Leon Vitali has passed away at the age of 74. Let's take a look at his final project.

Vitali plays Nigel, a record producer who convinces an experimental music maker called Martin Stockdotter (Noah Segan from "Knives Out" and "Star Wars: The Last Jedi") to make a quick buck by creating a record of Halloween-themed sound effects. [devastating death of Leon Vitali](https://www.looper.com/973835/the-devastating-death-of-leon-vitali/) at age 74 marked the departure of one of the great unsung talents of the world of cinema. On numerous occasions, [Vitali worked with Stanley Kubrick](https://www.looper.com/974084/stanley-kubricks-profound-piece-of-advice-for-leon-vitali-proved-why-he-was-such-a-special-filmmaker/) on both sides of the camera, and his over five decades of filmography saw him take on a number of diverse roles ...

Leon Vitali, who starred in films such as Barry Lyndon before giving up acting to serve as Stanley Kubrick's personal assistant, has died.

He was a sweet, kind, humble, generous man and a vital part of Stanley Kubrick’s team. RIP, dear Leon." A kind, generous & forgiving nature. A loving father & friend to so many. [tweeting](https://twitter.com/leeunkrich/status/1561346371294179329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1561346371294179329%7Ctwgr%5E39f4dbed39e0bde2bec89293e201ea16481a5869%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fradiotimes.production.wcp.imdserve.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost-new.php) that he was "completely heartbroken to hear about the passing of Leon Vitali". "Leon was a special and lovely man driven by his curiosity, who spread love and warmth wherever he went," his family said in a statement.