Stephen Campbell, the director of photography for the hit AMC series The Walking Dead, passed away on November 4, 2021, at the age of 65. He was a veteran cinematographer who worked on several films and TV shows, including The Punisher, Zombieland, The Sopranos, and Monster. His death has left many fans and colleagues in shock and sadness. But what was the cause of his death? How did he die?
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A Peaceful Death at Home
According to his daughter Aubrie, who announced his death on Facebook, Stephen Campbell died peacefully at his home in Winter Park, Florida. She did not reveal the cause of his death or any details about his health condition. She wrote:
For seven seasons of zombies and apocalyptic mayhem, he created genre-defining imagery for the hit television show. He was so, so proud of that work [on The Walking Dead].
She also shared some photos of her father with his family and friends, and thanked everyone for their love and support.
A Career Spanning Four Decades
Stephen Campbell was born in West Orange, New Jersey, in 1956. He was the second oldest of eight boys and was a natural athlete throughout his childhood. He graduated from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, and started his career as a camera assistant on Michael Jackson’s Victory Tour in 1984. He later reunited with Jackson for his Bad Tour in 1986 and 1987.
He then worked as a camera assistant and operator on various productions, such as Superboy, Psycho IV: The Beginning, The Waterboy, Mortal Combat: Conquest, Monster, The Punisher, The Sopranos, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Zombieland, and Last Man Standing.
He joined The Walking Dead in 2013 as a camera operator and became the director of photography in 2014. He alternated episodes with Michael E. Satrazemis, who is now a director-producer on the spinoff Fear the Walking Dead. He worked on nearly 40 episodes of the zombie drama, including some of the most acclaimed ones, such as “The Grove”, “The Storm”, and “A Certain Doom”. His last credit on the show was the original Season 10 finale, which aired in October 2020.
A Tribute from His Colleagues and Fans
Stephen Campbell’s death was mourned by many of his colleagues and fans, who expressed their condolences and appreciation for his work on social media. Satrazemis wrote a heartfelt tribute to his friend and partner on Instagram, saying:
Steve Campbell embodied a complete filmmaker on every level. The day we were introduced to each other we spoke in the language of creation for an hour straight and decided we would work together to create something special on The Walking Dead. As I moved into Directing and Steve took my place as the Cinematographer we created many of my favorite episodes of the show. He was kind, smart, talented and always fought the good fight.
He also shared some photos of Campbell on the set of The Walking Dead, and said he will miss him dearly.
The official Twitter account of The Walking Dead also posted a message in honor of Campbell, saying:
We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Stephen Campbell, a longtime member of our TWD family. He was an incredible cinematographer and a wonderful person. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
Many fans of the show also commented on the post, expressing their sadness and gratitude for Campbell’s contribution to the show. Some of them also noticed that the Season 11 midseason premiere, which aired on February 20, 2022, was dedicated to Campbell’s memory.
Stephen Campbell is survived by his wife, Pamela, his five children, Aubrie, Ian, Cameron, Fiona, and Riley, and his three grandchildren. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and a talented cinematographer who brought the world of The Walking Dead to life.
