Alec Mills, a British cinematographer who retired from the field, lived from May 10, 1932 to February 12, 2024. Notably, he served as the primary camera operator for the main unit during the production of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi.
His career in the world of cinema began at the young age of fourteen at Carlton Hill Studios, located in London. He then gained substantial experience working for Disney as a camera assistant during the latter part of the 1950s and the early 1960s. His significant opportunity came with the role of camera operator on The Saint television series, which ran from 1966 to 1968. In 1969, he took on the role of camera operator for On Her Majesty's Secret Service, his first foray into the James Bond series. He continued in this role for four more Bond films (The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy) before ascending to the position of director of photography for The Living Daylights and License to Kill.
Prior to his retirement from active filmmaking in 2001, Mills held the position of principal director of photography on approximately twenty-one films. He also ventured into directing, helming two films (Bloodmoon and Dead Sleep) in Australia. After retiring, he imparted his knowledge as a tutor at the National Film & Television School in Beaconsfield, England. Subsequently, he penned his autobiography, Shooting 007 and other Celluloid Adventures, which was released by The History Press on July 1, 2014.