Ron Galella, a photographer, known for his shots of celebrities and other high-profile individuals, as well as for his dogged pursuit of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, has died at age 91. She once sued him and won a restraining order against him.
Ron Galella Death Cause
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The much-loved celebrity and paparazzi photographer, Galella, died Saturday at his home in Montville. The cause of death was congestive heart failure, according to Geoffrey Croft, spokesperson for the artist and editor of Galella’s most recent book “100 Iconic Photographs — A Retrospective.”
Who was Ron Galella?
Born on January 10, 1931, in Bronx, NYC, USA, Ron had an eye for candid and close-up shots of the rich and famous. Ron was married to his wife, Betty Galella.
He amassed millions of images in a career that spanned decades. As subjects, he captured Hollywood icons like Ava Gardner or Greta Garbo as well as singers from Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga or sports personalities such as Muhammad Ali. His work was published by magazines like Time, People, and National Enquirer, among many others, which also saw his 22 books published.
Marlon Brando, Elvis Presley, and Sean Penn are just some of the celebrities that have been photographed by Ron Galella. A lot of these stars didn’t want to be photographed by Galella, but he still managed to snap shots of them anyway. He got punched in the face outside a New York City restaurant from Marlon Brando which broke his jaw and knocked five teeth out-all because he was trying to take pictures! Luckily for him though, there were major upsides too like getting paid handsomely for photos or receiving autographed memorabilia as thanks.
Onassis testified that Galella had made her life “intolerable, almost unlivable” with his constant surveillance. In 1972, Galella was ordered to keep a distance of atleast 25 feet from Onassis and 30 feet from her children.
Galella had a fixation with Onassis, which is shown in the 2010 documentary Smash His Camera. He confessed to not having a girlfriend, but he considered her his girl and was obsessed with her. Despite his notoriety, Galella’s photos received accolades from institutions like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where one of the MoMA works titled “Windblown Jackie” captured Onassis on Madison Avenue in 1971. This image became one of the most iconic photographs for first lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Croft said this about Galella’s work: “It speaks for itself.”
Ron Galella Net Worth
He was worth over $1 million. He amassed most of his wealth from being a photographer.
| Net Worth | $1 million – $2 million |
| Annual Salary | Under review |
| Source of Income | Photographer |
| Verification Status of Wealth | Not verified |
Is Ron Galella Dead or Alive?
As per the latest updates, Ron died at the age of 91.
Stay tuned with thetribunevoice.com for more updates.
