Eduardo Serra, acclaimed cinematographer of Girl with a Pearl Earring, Harry Potter, and more, dies at 81

Eduardo Serra, the acclaimed Portuguese cinematographer, has passed away at the age of 81. Over the course of his distinguished career, he worked on numerous acclaimed films, including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1, and Girl with a Pearl Earring. Serra died on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

As age began to catch up with him, Serra gradually slowed down his work. Following the news of his passing, tributes from across the entertainment industry poured in, honoring his remarkable legacy. In this piece, we take a closer look at the details surrounding his passing, the cause of death, and a reflection on his life and career.

Eduardo Serra passed away at 81

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Eduardo Serra passed away on August 19, 2025, at the age of 81. The Portuguese Film Academy confirmed the news, though the exact cause of death has not yet been disclosed. Born on October 2, 1943, in Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, Serra went on to build a celebrated career in cinema, working extensively across European productions, including British, Portuguese, and French films.

Serra attended the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon between 1960 and 1963, where he studied Engineering. However, he had to leave his country and settle in France after taking part in protests against António de Oliveira Salazar's regime. He eventually graduated from Vaugirard film school and went on to attend Paris-Sorbonne University.

He began his career as a cinematographer with the feature film À vendre and went on to work on numerous other acclaimed titles. Throughout his career, he frequently collaborated with Claude Chabrol and Patrice Leconte. He became the only Portuguese individual to receive an Academy Award nomination on two occasions. They were for his work in films like the 1997 British-American romantic drama The Wings of the Dove and 2003's Girl with a Pearl Earring. He also shot films like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Part 2, as well as Unbreakable.

Camerimage festival's director-producer Marek Żydowicz took to Instagram to pay his final tribute to Serra. He wrote,

“Eduardo was a warm, humble, and devoted friend of the festival. He visited us many times, always capturing the attention of students, young artists, and masters of the camera. His knowledge, sensitivity, and extraordinary mastery of light delighted his colleagues in the film industry as well as audiences around the world. Meetings and conversations with him were both enlightening and inspiring.”

Rest in peace, Eduardo Serra.