The production world mourned Thursday with the news of the passing of Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated art director James J. Murakami.
Murakami is best known for his Emmy-winning work as an art director on HBO’s Deadwood and his numerous collaborations with Clint Eastwood.
He died December 15 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles after complications from a fall, his wife Ginger confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.
RIP: The production world mourned Thursday with the news of the passing of Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated art director James J. Murakami
Murakami was born in Sacramento, California in June 1931 and spent most of his childhood in Campbell, California.
He and his family were buried in a war resettlement camp during World War II, and after the war ended he moved to Venice, California.
He attended Venice High School and then studied at the Chouinard Art Institute while honing his skills to achieve his goal of designing films
Born: Murakami was born in Sacramento, California in June 1931 and spent most of his childhood in Campbell, California
With no connection to his name, he began working as a demarcation and consultant for architects.
He got his start in moves and television with a job at ZIV Studio, where he spent several years in various art departments.
His first film job was as assistant art director for Dean Tavoularis on The Godfather: Part II in 1974, whom he also assisted on Apocalypse Now in 1979.
Connections: With no connection to his name, he began working as a delineator and consultant for architects
He also served as art director on episodes of Battlestar Galactica in 1979 and other hit films such as WarGames, Beverly Hills Cop, Midnight Run, True Romance, Crimson Tide, The Game and Enemy of the State before winning an Emmy for his art Directed by HBO’s Deadwood.
Murakami also served as set designer for production designer/art director Henry Burnstead on Clint Eastwood’s 1992 classic Western Unforgiven, who forged a long relationship with the director.
He also served as art director on Eastwood’s film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil in 1997 before beginning his career as a production designer on Letters From Iwo Jima in 2006.
Art Director: He also art directed episodes of Battlestar Galactica in 1979 and other hit films such as WarGames, Beverly Hills Cop, Midnight Run, True Romance, Crimson Tide, The Game and Enemy of the State before winning an Emmy for his Artistic Director for HBO’s Deadwood
Murakami received the only Oscar nomination for his work as production designer on 2008’s Changeling, becoming Eastwood’s regular designer.
They worked together on Gran Torino (2008), Invictus (2009), Hereafter (2010), J. Edgar (2011), Trouble With the Curve (2012), Jersey Boys and American Sniper (2014) and Sully (2016). .
Murakami is survived by his 34-year-old wife, Ginger, their daughter, Patricia, and stepchildren, John and Sandee.
Lifetime: They worked together on Gran Torino (2008), Invictus (2009), Hereafter (2010), J. Edgar (2011), Trouble With the Curve (2012), Jersey Boys and American Sniper (2014) and Sully (2016). in 2018