A TV legend known for work on Lost and The X-Files has sadly died.
Tributes are pouring in from colleagues and fans following the announcement of his passing.
Australian filmmaker Polly Pierce shared the devastating news on social media with a heartfelt tribute to her mentor and friend.
Alongside a photo of them together, she wrote on Instagram: “It’s with such a heavy heart to write that my long-time mentor and dear friend has passed on.”
Fans and industry colleagues have flooded social media with their own tributes.
“Very sorry for your loss. Praying for comfort and peace for his whole family,” wrote one devastated fan.
Another colleague shared: “So sorry for your loss. I worked with him for seasons on Lost and we ALL loved him.”
Others celebrated his artistic legacy, with one fan writing: “Loved his work on X-Files! RIP legend.”
Another reflected on his generous spirit: “We’ve lost another good one, but what a generous gesture to connect with a young lass from the other side of the world.”
John S. Bartley was a cinematographer whose career was defined by his ability to craft distinctive visual languages for television’s most compelling dramas.
His signature dark, mysterious palette became synonymous with supernatural storytelling, while his later work demonstrated remarkable versatility across genres and locations.
Bartley’s breakthrough came with his bold approach to creating one of television’s darkest visual styles in The X-Files, establishing a moody, claustrophobic atmosphere that became integral to the show’s identity.
Series creator Chris Carter once described the collaborative vision, per the ASC: “We like it dark, moody, mysterious, and sometimes claustrophobic.”
The cinematographer later brought his talents to the tropical mysteries of another landmark series, Lost, where he captured both the vibrant beauty and underlying menace of a mysterious island setting.
Bartley’s work on this acclaimed thriller about plane-crash survivors stranded in the tropics showcased his range as a visual storyteller.
Beyond television, Bartley’s film work included major Hollywood productions such as First Blood, The Chronicles of Riddick, and Eight-Legged Freaks, per IMDb.
He also contributed second-unit cinematography to The Chronicles of Riddick and The X-Files: I Want to Believe.
His television credits extended across multiple acclaimed series, including Bates Motel, Roswell, Wu Assassins, Vikings, and Walker: Independence, among others. He also worked on made-for-TV movies, including Hostage Rescue Team and The Matthew Shepard Story.
Throughout his distinguished career, Bartley earned widespread recognition for his artistry.
He received three American Society of Cinematographers Award nominations and multiple Primetime Emmy nominations, winning the coveted Emmy Award in 1996 for his work on The X-Files episode ‘Grotesque.’
He also received Emmy nominations for episodes of Lost (‘The Constant’) and Bates Motel (‘A Danger to Himself and Others’).
Bartley, ASC, CSC, died on August 17 in Los Angeles at the age of 78.
Born in Wellington, New Zealand, on February 12, 1947, to a career army officer and theater cashier, he overcame early hardship when his father died suddenly when Bartley was just 12 years old, MailOnline reports.
His path to cinematography began unconventionally. After high school, he apprenticed as an electrician before moving to Sydney at age 20 to work as a lighting director in theater and television.
Bartley later relocated to Canada, where he began freelancing as a gaffer in Vancouver, learning from acclaimed cinematographers including Sven Nykvist, Hiro Narita, Tak Fujimoto, and Bob Stevens.
Reflecting on his demanding but rewarding career, he once offered this advice to aspiring filmmakers: “The best advice I can give anyone is that there is nothing easy about working in this industry. You have to love it, because it is tough on family life when you are working 70 to 80 hours a week. Not everyone can do it.”
He became an ASC member in 1997 after being proposed by Robert Primes, Michael Watkins, and Robert Stevens, cementing his status as one of television’s most influential visual artists.
Bartley’s legacy continues to inspire cinematographers and filmmakers around the world.
