BIG SUR, Calif.–Legendary cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond, best known for “The Deer Hunter” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” died here January 1. He was 85.

The Hungarian-born Zsigmond helped define cinema’s American New Wave in the 1970s through iconic collaborations and a preference for natural light. He first gained renown for his collaboration with Robert Altman on classics “McCabe & Mrs. Miller” and “The Long Goodbye.” In addition to his work on Michael Cimino’s classic “The Deer Hunter,” for which he earned an Oscar nomination, Zsigmond also worked with Brian De Palma on a number of films including “Blow Out.” Zsigmond’s sole Oscar win was for Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”

But, every great artist has to start somewhere, and MSTies know that among his first gigs was as a camera operator for the movie in episode 812- THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE CREATURES WHO STOPPED LIVING AND BECAME MIXED-UP ZOMBIES!!? along with his pal and fellow Hungarian, László Kovács.

Variety has the story.

Thanks to Timmy for the heads up.

LOS ANGELES – Wayne Rogers, who portrayed wisecracking Army surgeon “Trapper John” McIntyre in the first three seasons of TV’s “M*A*S*H,” and who later became a respected financial analyst, died Dec. 31. He was 82.

MSTies will recall he was at the center of conversation in a host segment in episode 410- HERCULES AGAINST THE MOON MEN when Joel and the bots discussed what Crow called “the Wayne Rogers syndrome.”

Reuters has a nice obit.