Fritz Roland
cinematographer
Fritz Roland, 84, a cinematographer who operated production studios in Washington for more than 40 years, died Jan. 13 at his home in Falls Church. He had a heart attack, his daughter, Tanya Roland, said.
Mr. Roland was born in Vienna, Austria, came to the United States in 1938 and graduated from high school in New York City. He served in the U.S. Army and settled in Washington in the late 1940s.
After operating a photography studio in Arlington County, Mr. Roland and a business partner, Del Ankers, formed Rodel Productions, a film production company that was based for many years in Georgetown.
Mr. Roland wrote, photographed and produced for many kinds of film productions, including commercials, documentaries, television programs and industrial films. He did freelance second-unit camera work for feature films, including the 1965 James Bond movie “Thunderball” and the 1963 documentary “The Making of a President.”
Mr. Roland later operated Roland House, a post-production film studio, from 1985 to 2005. He often wrote about production and cinematography for specialized publications.
He lived in Arlington before moving to Falls Church about eight years ago.
His marriages to Phyllis Roland and Ruth Peck ended in divorce.
Survivors include four children from his second marriage, Hans Roland of Broad Run, Franz and Erich Roland, both of Oakton, and Tanya Roland of Falls Church; and four grandchildren.
— Matt Schudel
Loading...
Comments