“If you don’t do it this year, you’ll be one year older when you do.” – Warren Miller
93-year-old Warren Miller passed away at his home in Orcas Island, WA yesterday.
Warren Miller single handedly created the ski movie industry and brought it to millions upon millions.
It’s arguable that no one has ever done more for skiing than Warren Miller did.
Warren filmed, produced, and directed a plethora of ski movies starting back in 1950.
His first ski movie was released in 1950 and was called “Deep and Light”.
Warren’s famous, creamy voice was the narration on all his films from 1950 until 1988. After 2004, Warren Miller was no longer involved in Warren Miller movies.
“I shot 27 rolls at Squaw Valley that first winter. That’s all I could afford. I made a movie out of it and I shopped it around ski clubs in Los Angeles ski clubs to sponsor it. The 11th ski club agreed to put it on and they agreed to put it on and paid me $200 and that was the start of this whole craziness.” – Warren Miller
video about Warren’s life and his autobiography
Warren created over 750 sports films, a few books, and hundreds of non-fiction stories.
In 1946, Warren had just gotten out the Navy after serving during World War II. He used what little money he had to buy an 8mm video camera and went to film school at the University of Southern California. Upon graduating, he talked his buddy Ward Baker into moving to Sun Valley, ID where they began skiing daily and capturing all they could.
That move was the start of 50+ years of continuous ski movies produced by Warren Miller Entertainment.
Warren Miller was one of the very first ski bums in North America, paving the path for those of who have followed.
Warren Miller crushed life, created an industry, did exactly what he wanted to, and made it to 93.
Thanks, Warren.
“We are saddened to share the news that our beloved Warren passed away peacefully at the age of 93 at his home on Orcas Island, WA. While this is a time of profound loss, we are comforted that Warren’s life touched so many. Warren made the extraordinary seem accessible, and his legacy of freedom, humor, and adventure endures through all of you. Whether you saw his movies, read his books or met him on the slopes, he considered you to be part of his family. Your love meant the world to him. For those who are able, ski your favorite run or do something else you love in Warren’s memory.
As Warren might say: “I’ll see you same time, same place next year, only I’ll be watching from a different mountaintop.”
Warren Miller is survived by his wife Laurie, his two children, and his stepson.
Warren Miller Movies:
| # | Year | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1950 | Deep And Light |
| 2 | 1951 | California Skis |
| 3 | 1952 | Wandering Skis |
| 4 | 1953 | Ski Fantasy |
| 5 | 1954 | Symphony On Skis |
| 6 | 1955 | Invitation To Skiing |
| 7 | 1956 | Have Skis, Will Travel |
| 8 | 1957 | Anyone For Skiing? |
| 9 | 1958 | Are Your Skis On Straight? |
| 10 | 1959 | Let’s Go Skiing |
| 11 | 1960 | Swinging Skis |
| 12 | 1961 | Many Moods Of Skiing |
| 13 | 1962 | Around The World On Skis |
| 14 | 1963 | The Sound Of Skiing |
| 15 | 1964 | The Skiers |
| 16 | 1965 | The Big Ski Show |
| 17 | 1966 | Ski On The Wild Side |
| 18 | 1967 | The Ski Scene |
| 19 | 1968 | No Boundaries |
| 20 | 1969 | This Is Skiing |
| 21 | 1970 | Sound Of Winter |
| 22 | 1971 | Any Snow, Any Mountain |
| 23 | 1972 | Winter People |
| 24 | 1973 | Skiing’s Great |
| 25 | 1974 | The Color Of Skiing |
| 26 | 1975 | There Comes A Time |
| 27 | 1976 | Skiing On My Mind |
| 28 | 1977 | In Search Of Skiing |
| 29 | 1978 | Ski A La Carte |
| 30 | 1979 | Winter Fever |
| 31 | 1980 | Ski People |
| 32 | 1981 | Ski In The Sun |
| 33 | 1982 | Snowonder |
| 34 | 1983 | Ski Time |
| 35 | 1984 | Ski Country |
| 36 | 1985 | Steep And Deep |
| 37 | 1986 | Beyond The Edge |
| 38 | 1987 | White Winter Heat |
| 39 | 1988 | Escape To Ski |
| 40 | 1989 | White Magic |
| 41 | 1990 | Extreme Winter |
| 42 | 1991 | Born To Ski |
| 43 | 1992 | Steeper And Deeper |
| 44 | 1993 | Black Diamond Rush |
| 45 | 1994 | Vertical Reality |
| 46 | 1995 | Endless Winter |
| 47 | 1996 | Snowriders |
| 48 | 1997 | Snowriders 2 |
| 49 | 1998 | Freeriders |
| 50 | 1999 | Fifty |
| 51 | 2000 | Ride |
| 52 | 2001 | Cold Fusion |
| 53 | 2002 | Storm |
| 54 | 2003 | Journey |
| 55 | 2004 | Impact |
I dated a man in the 70’s who promoted Warren Miller in the Pacific Northwest market. I got to know him well. He was a very interesting and caring man who I always enjoyed having dinner and conversations with. RIP to a lovely, talented, funny person.
Warren Miller’s passing is a true legend in the ski industry. Thank you for bringing the fun of skiing to all of us forever!
His movies were an inspiration to me all my life.
Started watching his annual ski movies in the 60s in Detroit Ford Auditorium downtown. Unique narration live presentation. Began my craving for powder skiing and big mountains. Met Warren Miller La Las Vegas Ski Show had a conversation with him regarding a product I was selling and the potential to be filmed. It seems he had a full and interesting life. My condolences to family and friends