David Keighley, architect of the IMAX experience, has died at age 77. As IMAX’s first Chief Quality Officer, Keighley had a hand in the post-production of over 500 IMAX releases during his long career. He, alongside his wife, Patricia, was vital in creating the way we experience films in IMAX today. After first experiencing the format in 1971, he was instantly enamored by IMAX and joined the company along with his wife the following year. He then co-directed the third-ever film released in IMAX, Catch the Sun.

Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX, released a statement after his death saying, “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 The Odyssey, completing his review of the dailies just days before his death in a bittersweet but fitting capstone to a remarkable career.”

David Keighley was a part of the review process for nearly every major IMAX release, and he formed friendships and strong work relationships with many impactful filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, Ryan Coogler, and Denis Villeneuve. Nolan said in his statement that, “David Keighley was my friend and IMAX mentor for over twenty years. His expertise and collaborative spirit put IMAX cameras into my hands for the first time and opened Hollywood’s eyes to the power of the format, starting with The Dark Knight. His keen eye and uncompromising standards meant that audiences were treated to the best possible experience of our films — a massive part of their impact.”

David Keighley is survived by his wife, Patricia, his three children, and two grandchildren. One of his children, Geoff Keighley, is a prominent figure in the video game business. He is the founder and host of the annual video game awards show, The Game Awards, as well as Summer Games Fest, an annual game announcement live event. In an obituary for his father, Geoff said, “My Dad’s integrity and ethics were unshakable, as was his “passion for excellence” in everything he did in work, and in life. None of my success would have been possible without his unwavering support and guidance along the way. When I fell in love with video games, my own form of immersive entertainment, my parents never once questioned my passion – if anything, they saw a parallel to the magic they felt when they first experienced IMAX in 1971.”