Bill Klages, a pioneering lighting designer in the television industry and a seven-time Emmy Award winner, passed away on Sunday at his home in Santa Monica. He was 97 years old. His son, Jonathan Klages, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter.
In 2012, Klages became the first and only lighting designer to be inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. His illustrious career spanned over six decades, from the early days of black-and-white live television to the sophisticated high-definition productions of the modern era.
A native of New York, Klages was responsible for lighting some of the most prestigious events and shows in television history. His work included the Emmys, the Tonys, the Grammys, and The Kennedy Center Honors. He also contributed to a variety of high-profile entertainment programs such as Kraft Music Hall, My Name Is Barbra, Sills and Burnett at the Met, Baryshnikov by Tharp, and The Dorothy Hamill Special.
Klages was nominated for 22 Emmys throughout his career, winning his first in 1974 for The Lie, an Ingmar Bergman-written telefilm starring George Segal and Shirley Knight. His final Emmy came in 1991 for his work on the CBS special The Magic of David Copperfield XIII: Mystery on the Orient Express.
“Lighting design is an accumulation of methods,” Klages said in 2012. “It’s what you think looks good. All of that is inside you, intuitively. Then, of course, there’s this bag of [technological] tricks. And sometimes, you have this revelation on your part, something nobody else has ever done before.”
William Maxwell Klages was born on May 7, 1927, in Long Beach, New York. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a master’s degree from Columbia University. He was also a licensed professional engineer.
In 1948, Klages began his career at NBC in New York as a maintenance engineer. He quickly moved up the ranks to become a video engineer in the operations department. After a two-year stint in the U.S. Navy, he debuted as a lighting director on the live dramatic series Playwrights ’56.
Klages employed techniques from 1940s moviemaking to light landmark shows featuring stars like Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Ernie Kovacs, and Perry Como. He also provided lighting design for significant events such as the closing ceremony of the Los Angeles Olympics and the Liberty Weekend Statue of Liberty celebration in 1984. Additionally, he worked on four Republican National Conventions and for the 16,000-seat Lakewood Church in Houston.
A mentor to generations of lighting designers, Klages founded his own company, New Klages Inc., in 1983. He conducted seminars across the U.S., Canada, and Europe and was a member of the International Photographers Guild as a director of photography.
Klages was married to Julie Rosalie Light, the daughter of classically trained violinist, dance-band leader, and recording engineer Enoch Light. Julie was an associate director at NBC. The couple was married from 1958 until her death in 2009. Their son, Jonathan Klages, is a writer, editor, and musician.
Klages’ contributions to the field of lighting design have left an indelible mark on the television industry. His innovative techniques and intuitive understanding of lighting have influenced countless productions and set new standards for the craft. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of lighting designers.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
