The film world is in mourning, with news that five-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer Owen Roizman has passed away at 86 years of age.

The cinematographer of classics such as The Exorcist, The French Connection and Network, passed following a 'long illness,' according to American Cinematographer's Instagram post.

The magazine, which is, 'The world’s premiere trade magazine on cinematography,' added it is preparing a 'full memorial' for Roizman.

'We are very sorry to hear that cinematographer Owen Roizman, ASC has died at the age of 86 following a long illness,' the American Cinematographer post began.

'Nominated five times for his camerawork, he was presented in 2017 with an honorary Academy Award for his contributions to cinema,' they added.

The publication also linked to the report from their 2017 celebration of Roizman at the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Clubhouse in Los Angeles. 

Roizman was born September 22, 1936 in Brooklyn, and grew up with a dream of playing professional baseball, even attending a tryout for the New York Yankees.

His father Sol was a cameraman for MovieTone, and when Roizman learned what he could make as a cameraman, as opposed to a mathematician or physicist - the subjects he exceled in at school - he decided to, 'go for the money,' as he told Variety in a 2017 interview. 

He started out as an assistant to cinematographer Gerald Hirschfield before making his feature film debut as a cinematographer in 1970's Stop!

His second film earned his first Oscar nomination - the 1971 classic The French Connection, revealing in a 2011 interview with The Los Angeles Times that The French Connection director William Friedkin had fortunately seen and enjoyed his work in Stop!

'Friedkin said, "I like your work in it; what I want to do … what I want it to be is a realistic street photography sort of thing." I said, "Why not? I should be able to do anything you tell me. I’m a cinematographer." He liked my attitude,' Roizman said.

He served as cinematographer on The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight, Play It Again, Sam, Liza With a Z and The Heartbreak Kid before reuniting with Friedkin for his 1973 classic The Exorcist, where he earned his second Oscar nomination.

Roizman also served as the cinematographer on 1970s hits such as The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, Three Days of the Condor and Network, the latter of which earned his third Oscar nomination.

He also earned Oscar nominations for 1983's Tootsie and 1995's Wyatt Earp, before winning an Honorary Award in 2018 from the Academy.

Roizman is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mona Lindholm, and their son Eric, who has worked as a camera operator on TV shows such Lethal Weapon, The Last Man on Earth and Justified.