Eugene Gaudio

Eugene Gaudio, the younger brother of Oscar-winning cinematographer Tony Gaudio, was born in Italy on December 31, 1886, the son of a professional photographer. Both Eugene and his older brother Tony learned the craft of photography in his father's portrait studio. In approximately 1905, Eugene displayed an interest in motion picture photography.

Gaudio emigrated to the United States after the turn of the last century, settling in the New York area. He was employed as a photographic development laboratory superintendent for Carl Laemmle's IMP (Independent Motion Pictures) and Life Photo Film Corp. After Laemmle merged Imp with several other companies into Universal, Gaudio moved to California with Universal in 1915, where he abandoned the darkroom for the motion picture camera.

Gaudio's reputation was made as the cinematographer on "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". After moving to Metropolitan Pictures, he served as the cameraman for for Metro's top female stars, Alla Nazimova and May Allison. He was one of the founding members of the American Society of Cinematographers.

Gaudio moved on from Metro to serve as the cameraman for Bessie Barriscale at the actress's own B. B. Features, before he was struck down by an acute attack of appendicitis. Eugene Gaudio died died on August 1, 1920 from peritonitis after an appendectomy. He was 35 years old.