J. Kim Murphy Leon Vitali, an English actor who most notably played Lord Bullingdon in “Barry Lyndon” before becoming director Stanley Kubrick’s personal assistant, died Saturday.
He was 74 years old.Vitali’s death was confirmed by the official social media presence for Kubrick. No further details regarding Vitali’s death are available at this time.“It is with the greatest of sadness that we have to tell you that the mainstay of a vast number of Kubrick’s films, Leon Vitali, passed away peacefully last night,” the account wrote in a statement. “Our thoughts are with his family.”It is with the greatest of sadness that we have to tell you that the mainstay of a vast number of Kubrick's films, Leon Vitali, passed away peacefully last night.
Our thoughts are with his family and all that new and loved him.26 July 1948 – 20 August 2022 pic.twitter.com/uE0Q1KvQi1— Stanley Kubrick (@StanleyKubrick) August 21, 2022As a screen actor, Vitali is best-known for his performance in Kubrick’s period black comedy.
Vitali portrays the slighted, brattish stepson to Ryan O’Neal’s eponymous blank-faced scoundrel — the pair’s screwy feud culminates in the final confrontation of the story.While “Barry Lyndon” didn’t establish Vitali as a regular performer, it did lead to the actor fostering a deep relationship with Kubrick, who allowed Vitali to oversee the editing process of the film after principal photography was completed.
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