Italian-born production designer and art director Bruno Rubeo, a 1990 Oscar nominee for best art decoration-set decoration for his work with Crispian Sallis on “Driving Miss Daisy,” died of complications from pneumonia Nov. 2 in Foligno, Italy. He was 65.
Rubeo had continued to work until recently, earning his last credit as production designer on Taylor Hackford’s 2010 release “Love Ranch,” starring Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci.
Rubeo also worked with Hackford on the films “Blood In, Blood Out,” “Dolores Claiborne,” “The Devil’s Advocate” and “Proof of Life.”
He contributed to a number of films directed by Oliver Stone as well: “Salvador,” “Platoon,” “Talk Radio” and “Born on the Fourth of July,” even taking on small roles in “Salvador” and “Talk Radio.” Rubeo worked with several other top directors, including Ivan Reitman, Joel Schumacher, Mike Newell, John McTiernan, Michael Radford and John Dahl.
Other high-profile feature assignments included “Old Gringo,” set in old Mexico; Arnold Schwarzenegger starrer “Kindergarten Cop”; Civil War period piece “Sommersby”; WWII actioner “The Great Raid”; and pics in contemporary settings such as John Grisham adaptation “The Client,” airport dramedy “Pushing Tin” and stylish remake “The Thomas Crown Affair.”
In 2004 Rubeo was lauded for his production design on Radford’s bigscreen “The Merchant of Venice,” starring Al Pacino.
Rubeo was born and educated in Rome, graduating with a degree in production design from the Scuola Statale di Cinematografia di Roma in 1968 and earned his first production designer credit on the 1982 comedy “Spring Fever.”
He is survived by his wife, costume designer Mayes Rubeo; a son, Marco, also an art director; and a granddaughter.
