Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsPrimetime EmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalFall TV GuideMost Anticipated This MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayTrending peopleCelebrity news
    IMDb LabsHelp centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Biography
  • Awards
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Alan Root(1937-2017)

  • Cinematographer
  • Producer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Alan Root was born on 12 May 1937 in London, England, UK. He was a cinematographer and producer, known for Gorillas in the Mist (1988), Mysterious Castles of Clay (1978) and Here Be Dragons (1990). He was married to Joan Root, Fran Michelmore and Jenny Hammond. He died on 26 August 2017 in Nairobi, Kenya.
BornMay 12, 1937
DiedAugust 26, 2017(80)
BornMay 12, 1937
DiedAugust 26, 2017(80)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Add photos, demo reels
  • Nominated for 1 Oscar
    • 1 win & 2 nominations total

Known for

Sigourney Weaver in Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
Gorillas in the Mist
7.0
  • Additional Crew
  • 1988
Mysterious Castles of Clay (1978)
Mysterious Castles of Clay
7.9
  • Cinematographer
  • 1978
Here Be Dragons (1990)
Here Be Dragons
7.8
  • Cinematographer
  • 1990
Baobab: Portrait of a Tree
  • Cinematographer
  • 1973

Credits

IMDbPro

Cinematographer

  • Built for the Kill (2001)
    Built for the Kill
    7.7
    TV Series
    • Cinematographer
    • 2002
  • Heart of Africa (1996)
    Heart of Africa
    7.3
    TV Mini Series
    • Cinematographer
    • 1996
  • Survival (1961)
    Survival
    8.8
    TV Series
    • filmed by
    • Cinematographer
    • 1967–1990
  • Here Be Dragons (1990)
    Here Be Dragons
    7.8
    • Cinematographer
    • 1990
  • The Living Planet (1984)
    The Living Planet
    9.0
    TV Mini Series
    • photography
    • 1984
  • Lights, Action, Africa!
    • Cinematographer
    • 1981
  • Kopjes: A Rock for All Seasons
    • Cinematographer
    • 1980
  • Mysterious Castles of Clay (1978)
    Mysterious Castles of Clay
    7.9
    • Cinematographer
    • 1978
  • Balloon Safari (1975)
    Balloon Safari
    • Cinematographer
    • 1975
  • National Geographic Specials (1965)
    National Geographic Specials
    8.5
    TV Series
    • Cinematographer
    • 1972–1974
  • Baobab: Portrait of a Tree
    • Cinematographer
    • 1973
  • Merry-Go-Round
    6.8
    TV Series
    • Cinematographer
    • 1973
  • Mzima: Portrait of a Spring
    9.4
    • Cinematographer
    • 1972
  • The World About Us (1967)
    The World About Us
    8.3
    TV Series
    • photographed by
    • 1969–1970
  • Geheimnis Leben (1967)
    Geheimnis Leben
    • Cinematographer
    • 1967

Producer

  • The Elephant Queen (2018)
    The Elephant Queen
    7.8
    • executive producer
    • 2018
  • F. Murray Abraham, Peter Coyote, Allison Argo, David Attenborough, Paul Christie, John Benjamin Hickey, Howard McGillin, George Page, Jay O. Sanders, Craig Sechler, Nora Young, Toby Leonard Moore, and Chris Morgan in Nature (1982)
    Nature
    8.9
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • 2006
  • Wild Tales: Serengeti Jigsaw
    TV Movie
    • producer
    • 1999
  • Mountain Gorilla: A Shattered Kingdom
    TV Movie
    • supervising producer
    • 1996
  • Heart of Africa (1996)
    Heart of Africa
    7.3
    TV Mini Series
    • producer
    • 1996
  • Survival (1961)
    Survival
    8.8
    TV Series
    • produced by
    • producer
    • co-producer
    • 1961–1990
  • Here Be Dragons (1990)
    Here Be Dragons
    7.8
    • producer
    • 1990
  • Lights, Action, Africa!
    • producer
    • 1981
  • Kopjes: A Rock for All Seasons
    • producer
    • 1980
  • Mysterious Castles of Clay (1978)
    Mysterious Castles of Clay
    7.9
    • producer
    • 1978
  • Balloon Safari (1975)
    Balloon Safari
    • producer
    • 1975
  • Baobab: Portrait of a Tree
    • producer
    • 1973
  • Mzima: Portrait of a Spring
    9.4
    • producer
    • 1972

Director

  • Heart of Africa (1996)
    Heart of Africa
    7.3
    TV Mini Series
    • Director (segment "Forest Primeval")
    • 1996
  • Here Be Dragons (1990)
    Here Be Dragons
    7.8
    • Director
    • 1990
  • Kopjes: A Rock for All Seasons
    • Director
    • 1980
  • Survival (1961)
    Survival
    8.8
    TV Series
    • Director
    • 1974–1980
  • Mysterious Castles of Clay (1978)
    Mysterious Castles of Clay
    7.9
    • Director
    • 1978
  • Balloon Safari (1975)
    Balloon Safari
    • Director
    • 1975
  • Baobab: Portrait of a Tree
    • Director
    • 1973
  • Mzima: Portrait of a Spring
    9.4
    • Director
    • 1972
  • The World About Us (1967)
    The World About Us
    8.3
    TV Series
    • Director
    • 1969–1970

Personal details

  • Born
    • May 12, 1937
    • London, England, UK
  • Died
    • August 26, 2017
    • Nairobi, Kenya(glioblastoma)
  • Spouses
      Joan Root1961 - 1981 (divorced)
  • Other works
    Book: "Ivory, Apes and Peacocks: Animals, Adventure and Discovery in the Wild Places of Africa,".London: Chatto & Windus, ISBN: 9780701186036
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Article

Did you know

  • Trivia
    His ex-wife Joan Root was fatally shot in January 2006 by assailants who broke into her lake front farmhouse outside Nairobi. Authorities suspect the conservationist was attacked because she tried to prevent illegal fishing on the lake. A former employee and a poacher are being held in the killing police said.

Contribute to this page

Suggest an edit or add missing content
  • Learn more about contributing
Edit page

More to explore

Recently viewed

You have no recently viewed pages
Get the IMDb app
Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
Follow IMDb on social
Get the IMDb app
For Android and iOS
Get the IMDb app
  • Help
  • Site Index
  • IMDbPro
  • Box Office Mojo
  • License IMDb Data
  • Press Room
  • Advertising
  • Jobs
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your Ads Privacy Choices
IMDb, an Amazon company

© 1990-2026 by IMDb.com, Inc.