Terry O’Neill, British Photographer to the stars dies aged 81

 

Terry O’Neill British photographer whose work captured iconic images of London’s Swinging Sixties died of prostrate cancer on Saturday night.

He photographed iconic celebrities including David Bowie, Elton John, Queen and The Rolling Stones and received a CBE last month for services to photography.

 

O’Neill dreamed of becoming a jazz drummer ended up working in a photographic unit at London’s Heathrow Airport.

 

As a newspaper photographer on Fleet Street, he was assigned to photograph The Beatles. He photographed the Queen twice, and even got her to smile during the second photo shoot in 1992 a year described by the Queen as “annus horribilis” by telling a horse-racing joke.

 

Sir Elton John Twitted “ O’Neill was brilliant, funny and I absolutely loved his company”.

Iconic Images, which represented O’Neil’s work, said he was “a class act, quick-witted and filled with charm”.