Vale Ron Johanson OAM ACS
We’re deeply saddened to share the passing of Ron Johanson OAM ACS – a true giant of our industry and a proud member of the BADC Hall of Fame, inducted in 2009.
Ron’s career began in 1965 at Crawford Productions in Melbourne, where he started as a message boy and quickly progressed to become a camera assistant on iconic series like Homicide and Hunter. From there, he worked with some of the country’s most respected cinematographers, before moving into directing and shooting hundreds of national and Queensland-based TVCs, music videos, and documentaries.
He was a passionate and tireless mentor, known for training and guiding many who went on to become some of the best in the business – not just in the camera department, but across the production industry, from assistants to producers.
Ron’s influence was recognised with a long list of industry accolades, including:
- Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2014 for services to the arts
- Induction into the ACS Hall of Fame in 2003
- Induction into the BADC Hall of Fame in 2009
- 4 New York Festival Awards
- 3 Mobius Awards
- 3 Gold ACS Awards (plus Silver and Bronze)
- 2 Cannes Lions
- 2 Golden Tripods
- Kodak Award for Services to the Film Industry
- Queensland New Filmmakers Kinetone Award
He also served as National President of the Australian Cinematographers Society from 2008 to 2022, where he championed education, inclusion, and excellence in screen craft.
We were lucky enough to record a special BADC podcast with Ron for our 40th anniversary, where he shared stories, opinions, and his incredible journey. You can listen to it here:
🎧 https://badc.com.au/app/uploads/BADC-Legends-10-Ron-Johanson.mp3
Our thoughts are with Ron’s family, friends, and the many who loved and learned from him. Thank you, Ron – for the work, the words, the mentoring, and the mark you left on us all.
