Miroslav Ondricek, Oscar-Nominated Cinematographer, Dies at 80

Tom Hulce practiced piano four hours a day for the role, but the music ended up being dubbed in anyway.

He earned noms for his work on Milos Forman's 'Ragtime' and 'Amadeus.'

Miroslav Ondricek, the Czech director of photography who earned two Academy Award nominations, has died. He was 80.

Czech public television announced Ondricek's death Sunday, citing his son David, also a filmmaker. No cause was given.

Ondricek was behind the camera in some 40 movies but was best known abroad for his collaborations with his friend, director Milos Forman, who settled in the United States after the 1968 Soviet-led invasion crushed the Prague Spring's liberal reforms in Czechoslovakia.

His work on Forman's Ragtime and Amadeus, which examined the relationship between Mozart and rival composer Antonio Salieri, earned him Oscar nominations.

In 2004, Ondricek received the International Achievement Award from the American Society of Cinematographers.