Albert Wolsky

Albert Wolsky (November 24, 1930 – May 23, 2026) was a French-born American costume designer. He had worked both on stage shows as well as for film, and has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Costume Design seven times, winning two awards for his work on the films All That Jazz and Bugsy (1991).

Early life, military service and early career Wolsky was born in Paris, France, on November 24, 1930, but during World War II, he and the rest of his family fled to the United States to escape the German occupation. After graduating from the City College of New York, he served in the army from 1953 to 1956, spending most of his enlistment in Japan. Once he returned to the United States, he began working in his father's travel agency. The first play Wolsky did on his own was Generation in 1965.

The first film Wolsky worked on was The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. He had been recommended to the film by Theoni Aldredge. He worked with Bob Fosse, a leading Broadway director, on All That Jazz and won his first Academy Award.

In 2010, Wolsky donated his costume design sketches to the Margaret Herrick Library at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Memberships Wolsky was a member of the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Personal life and death Wolsky's partner of 39 years was actor James Mitchell who died in 2010.

Wolsky lived in the Hollywood Hills and died at home on May 23, 2026, at the age of 95. Antoinette Perry Award 2013 Best Costume Design of a Play for The Heiress (nominee) Drama Desk Award 1976 Outstanding Costume Design for They Knew What They Wanted (nominee) 1976 Outstanding Costume Design for A Memory of Two Mondays / 27 Wagons Full of Cotton (nominee) 1977 Outstanding Costume Design for Sly Fox (nominee)