David Keighley, IMAX’s First Chief Quality Officer, Passes Away At Age 77

The year 2000 kicked off the new millennium, promising innovation and a big, bold step into the future for us all. In terms of cinema, IMAX’s presentation of Fantasia 2000 heralded such a happening – but it wasn’t until 2002’s re-release of Apollo 13 that major Hollywood films would be remastered into this large format. That move opened a pretty huge door, and it was all thanks to David Keighley – IMAX’s first chief quality officer – who sadly has died at the age of 77. 

David’s son Geoff confirmed to THR that his father had passed away in New York City, “after a battle with neuroendocrine prostate cancer.” As the elder Keighley’s claim to fame was leading the way in converting major Hollywood blockbusters into the IMAX format, he basically ensured that the premium large format would play a bigger role in the world of theatrical distribution. 

REMEMBERING DAVID KEIGHLEY

Honoring his late collaborator, IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond provided this statement of remembrance:

David was as close to the human embodiment of Imax as there has ever been, relentless in his drive to deliver awe-inspiring images to audiences around the globe. He was incredibly energized and proud of his work on the upcoming [Christopher Nolan adaptation of] The Odyssey, completing his review of the dailies just days before his death in a bittersweet but fitting capstone to a remarkable career.

Without David Keighley’s efforts, the IMAX format may have continued to remain primarily as the trusted format for larger than life documentaries. However it was the format that would inspire the formation of DKP 70MM – the postproduction house that he and wife Patricia would head up from 1972 until today. As the obituary above pointed out, “no Imax film print leaving the lab without David’s inspection” since its inception.

As Christopher Nolan’s history making picture sees the format friendly director offering the first movie shot entirely on IMAX 70MM, that career milestone is rather bittersweet. Knowing that the man who made it all possible was able to grant this final seal of approval shows how dedicated to the cause David Keighley happened to be. 

While that doesn’t offset the grief his family and friends must be feeling right now, it makes The Odyssey even more of a hotly anticipated player in the 2026 box office. It’s also why we here at That Hashtag Show would like to offer Mr. Keighley’s loved ones our deepest condolences, in this time of remembrance.