Peter Burgis, an Emmy Award-winning Foley artist whose work shaped the sound of films such as Mission Impossible and the television series Band of Brothers, has died. Pinewood Studios confirmed the news and led tributes to the man it called a "hugely respected" figure in the world of sound.
Career and achievements
Burgis spent his career at Pinewood Studios, recreating ambient sounds for films because the genuine noises produced on artificial sets would not deliver enough realism. He won a TV Emmy Award for Band of Brothers in 2002 and received another nomination in 2020 for his contributions to Devs.
His other credits include work on the Mission Impossible franchise, which he worked on alongside Band of Brothers.
Tributes from Pinewood and colleagues
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."
The statement continued: "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 share memories
Fans have been sharing tributes on Instagram. One person wrote: "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," reports the Express.
Another fan added: "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."
