Paparazzi pioneer Ron Galella, who was dubbed ‘Paparazzo Extraordinaire’ and the ‘Godfather’ of the industry, passed away on Saturday.
The photographer – who clashed with celebrities such as Jacqueline Onassis and Marlon Brando – passed at his home in Montville, New Jersey at 91 years of age from congestive heart failure, according to the New York Times.
Galella’s passing was confirmed by Geoffrey Croft, who edited Galella’s most recent book 100 Iconic Photographs – A Retrospective.
RIP: Paparazzi pioneer Ron Galella, who was dubbed ‘Paparazzo Extraordinaire’ and the ‘Godfather’ of the industry, passed away on Saturday
Clashed: The photographer – who clashed with celebrities such as Jacqueline Onassis and Marlon Brando – passed at his home in Montville, New Jersey at 91 years of age from congestive heart failure, according to the New York Times
Galella was born in New York City in January 1931, starting his photography career as a United States Air Force photographer from 1951 to 1955, including a stint in the Korean War.
After his stint with the military, he attended the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, graduating with a photojournalism degree in 1958.
He started taking pictures of celebrities at movie premieres and selling them to publications like the National Enquirer in the early 1960s, long before paparazzi photographers became ubiquitous at such events.
Stint: Galella was born in New York City in January 1931, starting his photography career as a United States Air Force photographer from 1951 to 1955, including a stint in the Korean War
His work was quickly dismissed by celebrities for taking their photographs without permission, with a judge in the late 1960s calling him one of the worst, ‘two-bit chiselers and fixers.’
He would literally hide in bushes or parked cars, sometimes even bribing doormen or limo drivers to the shots he needed.
Galella is perhaps best known for his incessant pursuit of Jaqueline Onassis, which even lead to a nearly decade-long legal battle.
Two-bit: His work was quickly dismissed by celebrities for taking their photographs without permission, with a judge in the late 1960s calling him one of the worst, ‘two-bit chiselers and fixers’
Onassis sued Galella in 1972, claiming the photographer was making her life, ‘intolerable, almost unlivable, with his constant surveillance,’ while he claimed he had the right to earn a living by taking these pictures.
The result was a judge handing down a restraining order barring Galella from being 25 feet away from Jackie O, and 30 feet from her children.
He was found guilty of breaking that order four times over the next decade, which he faced over seven years in jail for and a $120,000 fine.
Sued: Onassis sued Galella in 1972, claiming the photographer was makin her life, ‘intolerable, almost unlivable, with his constant surveillance,’ while he claimed he had the right to earn a living by taking these pictures
He would ultimately settle for a $10,000 fine and giving up his rights to photograph Jackie and her children.
Galella admitted in the 2010 documentary Smash His Camera (the title of which is taken from Jackie O’s instructions to a security guard) that he was ‘obsessed’ with the former First Lady.
‘I had no girlfriend. She was my girlfriend, in a way,’ Galella said in the documentary.
Obsessed: Galella admitted in the 2010 documentary Smash His Camera (the title of which is taken from Jackie O’s instructions to a security guard) that he was ‘obsessed’ with the former First Lady
He was also punched in the face by Marlon Brando in 1972 after following him outside of a restaurant in New York City, and he sued the actor, who ultimately settled for $40,000.
Galella also had contentious run-ins with celebs such as Richard Burton, Elvis Presley, whose security guards slashed his tires, and Sean Penn, who punched him while photographing the actor with his then-wife Madonna.
Despite the hatred of his methods, the photographs themselves were often widely praised, appearing in publications such as Time, Life, People and The National Enquirer.
Photos: Despite the hatred of his methods, the photographs themselves were often widely praised, appearing in publications such as Time, Life, People and The National Enquirer
Galella published 22 books of photography, and his work has been exhibited in galleries around the world, with Andy Warhol calling him his favorite photographer.
He married Betty Lou Burke in 1979, who worked as a photo editor for Today Is Sunday before becoming his business partner until her death in 2017.
Galella is survived by his brother Vincent and many nieces and nephews as well as great-nieces and -nephews.
Books: Galella published 22 books of photography, and his work has been exhibited in galleries around the world, with Andy Warhol calling him his favorite photographer
.
