Helmut Newton, 1923-2004

January 23, 2004 4:36 PM

Helmut Newton Killed in Crash Photographer Helmut Newton lost control of his Cadillac while leaving the Chateau Marmont hotel in Hollywood and crashed into a wall across the street. (more inside)
posted by matteo (11 comments total)

this sucks...first Capn Kangaroo, then this...there'll be one more famous death today. I always liked his work (he always had a clean, stark, sexy/cold thing happening)
posted by amberglow at 4:43 PM on January 23, 2004

NewsFilter, I know. But Newton is arguably the world's best (and most influential) fashion (and, erotica) photographer. With his images from the Seventies or the portraits of movie stars, or his self-portraits, it's impossible to overstate how much his brash style has influenced modern photography.
Of course, most images I linked are Not Very Safe For Work. I have been lucky enough to meet him and his wife June: a very kind, self-effacing genius, with a great mischevious sense of humor (I knew that he had just shot Nicolas Cage for Vogue USA. He told me had shot just a few frames, then immediately got what he wanted, and left Cage's Hollywood mansion. "I didn't want Vogue to waste too much money on film", he told me). His new autobiography is amazing reading if you love photography. Oh yeah, his favorite young photographer was David LaChapelle.
posted by matteo at 4:56 PM on January 23, 2004

the dude was 83 and driving a caddy. did he by chance crash into a farmers' market?

(Nb, but I really am sorry about the Captain. I can't catch the least glimpse of CNN or Fox without thinking "Ah, Moose Report." Art helps you make it through the day.)
posted by jfuller at 4:57 PM on January 23, 2004

ernie lucas, beloved 'can man' of my alma mater, Michigan State University, just died.
posted by badstone at 5:01 PM on January 23, 2004

Newton lived in LA (at the Chateau Marmont on the Sunset Strip) during the winter. He stayed in a high-rise in MonteCarlo the rest of the year
posted by matteo at 5:05 PM on January 23, 2004

old guy should not have been driving....
jesus, hire a driver guy!
posted by billybobtoo at 5:08 PM on January 23, 2004

one of those links is NSFW.
posted by jpoulos at 7:51 PM on January 23, 2004

scratch another one for number 23
posted by titboy at 9:41 PM on January 23, 2004

Wasn't he wearing a helmut?
posted by dydecker at 1:52 AM on January 24, 2004

who died?
posted by clavdivs at 7:36 AM on January 24, 2004

clavdivs: helmut newton
posted by titboy at 7:48 PM on January 24, 2004