Peter Burgis, the Emmy-winning Foley artist whose work shaped the sound of Band of Brothers and Mission Impossible, has died at the age of 78. Pinewood Studios confirmed the news, prompting tributes from fans and colleagues.
A career in sound
Burgis worked as a Foley artist at Pinewood Studios, recreating ambient sounds for films because the real noises produced on an artificial set would not sound realistic enough. He won a TV Emmy Award for Band of Brothers in 2002 and was nominated again in 2020 for his work on Devs.
Pinewood's tribute
In a statement, Pinewood Studios said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Foley artist Peter "Pete" Burgis. Pete was a hugely respected figure in the world of sound, whose creativity, craftsmanship and passion helped shape the soundscapes of countless films.
“Pete's connection to Pinewood and Shepperton was a special one. Over the years, he championed Foley work across our Studios, shared his expertise with filmmakers and audiences alike, and helped introduce new generations to the craft.
“His contribution to film sound, and to the wider creative community, will be remembered for many years to come. Our thoughts are with Pete's family, friends and all those who had the privilege of working with him.”
Fans and colleagues remember
Tributes also came from fans. One wrote on Instagram: “Oh no, this is such sad news. I worked on many films with Pete the Feet and had many laughs along the way! I’ll never forget when [he] managed to get Johnny Depp’s Wonka costume on for a Foley session. We laughed so much. God bless to such a wonderful soul.”
Another said: “Pete was generous enough to work very closely with us at Exeter College when we built our dedicated Foley Studio for our budding young Foley artists. He mentored us in learning Foley and how our studio should be set up. We loved Pete and he was so generous with his knowledge and sharing his craft. Not only this, he was a fun, engaging human, kind and thoughtful. My thoughts are with his family and friends. We will be ever grateful for his support.”
A third added: “Oh lovely Pete, you and Glen kept me sane on so many films! Big love.”
