Douglas Kirkland is an iconic photographer who has been capturing the world’s most famous faces for over six decades. Born in 1934 in Toronto, Canada, Kirkland began his career as a photographer at the age of 17 when he was hired by the Toronto Star newspaper. After working for the newspaper for several years, he moved to New York City and began working as a freelance photographer.
Kirkland’s career took off when he was hired by Look magazine in 1961. During his time at Look, he photographed some of the most iconic figures of the 20th century including Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy, and Elizabeth Taylor. His photographs of Monroe are particularly renowned and have been featured in numerous books and exhibitions around the world.
In addition to his work with Look magazine, Kirkland has also worked with many other publications including Life magazine, Vogue, Vanity Fair, and The New York Times Magazine. He has also photographed numerous celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Angelina Jolie, and Brad Pitt. In addition to his editorial work, Kirkland has also directed several films including “The Eyes of Laura Mars” (1978) and “The Last Emperor” (1987).
Kirkland has received numerous awards throughout his career including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Magazine Photographers in 2006 and a Lucie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Portraiture in 2008. He is currently based in Los Angeles where he continues to photograph some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.