Dennis Ayling
Dennis Ayling BSC (23 June 1917 – 24 October 1998) was a British cinematographer. He is best known for his miniature effects cinematography for the 1979 science fiction film Alien, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Ayling had a long career of more than 50 years as a film and television commercial cinematographer, and as a cinematographer and director of documentaries.
Also recorded as Denys Ayling
Dennis Ayling
- Name
- Dennis Ayling
- Birth Name
- Dennis Leslie Ayling
- Born
- 23 June 1917
- Birthplace
- Finchley, London, England, United Kingdom
- Died
- 24 October 1998
- Place of death
- Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom
- Occupation
- Cinematographer
- Nationality
- United Kingdom · United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
- Honours
- Academy Award for Best Visual Effects
- Languages
- English
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Documentary evidence
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wikidata · Q5258165 · wikipedia · Dennis Ayling
In this article
Biography
Biography
He also served in photographic reconnaissance squadrons in the Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, and for part of his service was based in Burma, where he covered many key events, including the Japanese surrender.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Dennis Ayling • Birth Name — Dennis Leslie Ayling • Born — 23 June 1917 • Birthplace — Finchley, London, England, United Kingdom • Died — 24 October 1998 • Place of death — Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom • Other Names — Denny Ayling • Occupation — Cinematographer • Years Active — 1937–early 1990s
Filmography
Filmography
Cinematographer • The Cool Mikado (1963) • Money Sings (short) (1963) • Jugglers and Acrobats (documentary short) (1964) • 9 Days in Summer (documentary, as Denny Ayling) (1967) • Cucumber Castle (television movie, uncredited) (1970) • Mr Tumbleweed (television movie) (1971) Visual Effects • Alien (director of photography: miniature effects, as Denys Ayling) (1979) Director • Men on Wheels (documentary short) (1961)
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Finchley.
Birth place
Ealing.
Death place
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Dennis Ayling, revision 1356921560 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.AMPAS. The 52nd Academy Awards (1980) Nominees and Winners. 14 April 1980.
- 2.Royal Air Force Personnel Management Agency. Royal Air Force Service Record. 1946-03-19.
References
Citations
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reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 September 2026.
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