Edward C. Carfagno; Oscar-Winning Art Director
Art director Edward C. Carfagno, who won three Academy Awards in a career that spanned more than 50 years and 76 films, has died. He was 89.
A family member said Carfagno died in his sleep Saturday at the Motion Picture and Television Country Home and Hospital in Woodland Hills.
Nominated for Oscars 13 times, he won Academy Awards in art direction for “The Bad and the Beautiful†in 1952, “Julius Caesar†in 1953 and “Ben Hur†in 1959.
He took his craft seriously, building and establishing the visual concepts for a film and selecting locations and sets that were pleasing, practical and historically accurate. His career was memorialized by an oral history project conducted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1989.
He began at MGM in 1933 and worked at the studio for 46 years. He also worked independently for Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. and Universal. His first movie credit was the 1943 film “Best Foot Forward.â€
His last film was “Pink Cadillac†in 1989.
A graduate of USC, Carfagno was a member of the 1940 U.S. Olympic fencing team.
He is survived by son Edward, daughters Carol and Linda, and two granddaughters.
Services will be held Jan. 4 at Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church in Beverly Hills.
The family suggests that memorial contributions can be made to the Motion Picture and Television Fund.
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