Oscar-winning Designer Barbara Ling Passes Away at 73
WHO:
The Hollywood Reporter - Barbara Ling, an Oscar-winning production designer, passed away at the age of 73.
The Hollywood Reporter - Ling was a Los Angeles native and is survived by her wife, Lindsay, and their sons, Clay and Will.
WHAT:
The Hollywood Reporter - Barbara Ling served as the production designer on the films "The Doors" (1991) and "Fried Green Tomatoes" (1991), where she also was an associate producer.
The Hollywood Reporter - Ling collaborated with director Scott Hicks on the films "Hearts in Atlantis" (2001), "No Reservations" (2007), "The Lucky One" (2012), and "Fallen" (2016).
The Hollywood Reporter - Ling expressed that the work she did on "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" would be "impossible to do next year" due to ongoing changes in Los Angeles.
Variety - Barbara Ling died on July 9 after a battle with cancer.
The Hollywood Reporter - Ling worked on the film "Michael" (2026), directed by Antoine Fuqua.
The Hollywood Reporter - Barbara Ling died after a battle with cancer.
The Hollywood Reporter - Ling won an Oscar for best production design for the film "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" (2019), sharing the award with set decorator Nancy Haigh.
The Hollywood Reporter - Ling's career spanned over four decades and included work on more than 200 theater, opera, and musical productions.
WHERE:
The Hollywood Reporter - Ling died in Santa Barbara, California.
The Hollywood Reporter - She worked on the fictional Gotham City for "Batman Forever" (1995) and "Batman & Robin" (1997).
WHEN:
The Hollywood Reporter - Ling was born in August 1952.
The Hollywood Reporter - She worked on "A Man Called Otto" (2022) and the biopic "Michael" (2026).
WHY:
The Hollywood Reporter - Ling expressed concern about the preservation of Los Angeles, stating, “L.A. is not a preservation city, never has been.”
HOW:
The Hollywood Reporter - Ling described the engineering challenges of recreating historical facades, stating, “To build those marquees, it’s added weight. These are old and fragile buildings that we were working with.”
The Hollywood Reporter - Ling described the engineering challenges of recreating historical facades, stating, “I had to go out and figure out where I could attach real things to. It was quite an engineering feat to do, particularly on Hollywood Boulevard.”
The Hollywood Reporter - Ling described her work on "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," stating that Tarantino wanted a real environment, saying, “I want to see. I want to smell and I feel that Hollywood.”
The Hollywood Reporter - Ling noted the engineering challenges of recreating historical facades, particularly on Hollywood Boulevard, to ensure they were safe and authentic.
(UPDATED July 11, 2026 20:15 UTC)
Barbara Ling, known for her work as a production designer and associate producer on films like "The Doors" and "Fried Green Tomatoes," recently shared her experiences in the industry. She collaborated with director Scott Hicks on several projects, including "Hearts in Atlantis," "No Reservations," "The Lucky One," and "Fallen." Ling expressed that the work she did on "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" would be "impossible to do next year" due to ongoing changes in Los Angeles, highlighting the engineering challenges of recreating historical facades with fragile buildings.
--
(UPDATED July 11, 2026 19:21 UTC)
Barbara Ling, a talented production designer known for her work on the film "Michael," has passed away after a battle with cancer. In her own words, Ling spoke about the engineering challenges she faced while recreating historical facades, noting the complexities of attaching real elements, especially on Hollywood Boulevard. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, "Michael" is set to be released in 2026, showcasing Ling's remarkable contributions to the film industry.
--
(UPDATED July 11, 2026 13:23 UTC)
Barbara Ling, an Oscar-winning production designer known for her work on "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," has passed away at the age of 73 after a battle with cancer. A Los Angeles native, she is survived by her wife, Lindsay, and their sons, Clay and Will, and her impressive career spanned over four decades, contributing to more than 200 theater, opera, and musical productions. Ling's notable projects included creating the fictional Gotham City for "Batman Forever" and "Batman & Robin," and she was deeply passionate about the preservation of Los Angeles, famously stating, “L.A. is not a preservation city, never has been.”