Property Master Edward Aiona Passes Away
By Ric Gentry
Edward Aiona, premiere prop master for 31 feature films, including three that won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Ordinary People (1980), Rain Man (1988) and Unforgiven (1992), as well as 28 episodes of network series television, passed away early March 31 at Tarzana Hospital, one day after the 29th anniversary of his marriage to beloved wife Bobbe, of lung cancer compounded by chronic heart trouble. He would have been 84 on May 27.
Renowned for his detailed preparation, unbending authenticity yet imaginative interpretation of appurtenances for actors, Aiona was closely associated with actor-director-producer Clint Eastwood, with whom Aiona made his debut as property master on Magnum Force in 1973 and then every Eastwood film until Aiona's retirement in 1996. To many, Aiona was the prototypical creative member of Eastwood's streamlined, fast-moving, hyper-efficient, tight knit Malpaso Productions team.
"Eddie was fiercely loyal to Clint and Clint was fiercely loyal to Eddie," remarked long-time associate Tony Engedal at Premiere Entertainment Services. "They were very similar in outlook and there was complete trust between them. In fact, Eddie was the only prop master I ever saw who the director turned to after the shot, and asked, 'Did we get that right?' And that was Clint. I saw him do that with Eddie (1989)."
Said Eastwood in a prepared statement, "Eddie was a great guy, so talented and devoted to his craft. He made the job look effortless. We worked on 20 films together from the early 70s until his retirement. Eddie will be sadly missed."
Between films with Eastwood, other directors Aiona collaborated with as prop master were all "A list:" Martin Scorsese (Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, 1974), John Milius (Big Wednesday, 1978), Sydney Pollack (The Electric Horseman, 1979 and Absence of Malice, 1981), Barry Levinson (Rain Man, 1988) and John Carpenter (Memoirs of an Invisible Man, 1992).
Veteran cinematographer Jack N. Green, who shot 13 of his 44 films with Malpaso, said of Aiona, "Eddie was the best prop master I ever worked with."