Michael Brennan is a British photographer known for his work capturing historical events, public figures, and world-renowned athletes. His career began in the 1960s, and he first gained major recognition in 1967 when he won the British News Picture of the Year for his coverage of the death of speed record breaker Donald Campbell, published in Life magazine.
Following this success, Brennan worked for several British newspapers, where he documented significant news stories and created portraits of well-known personalities. In 1970, he received the title of British Photographer of the Year. Over the years, his archive has grown to include images of figures such as Led Zeppelin, Freddie Mercury, Mick Jagger, President Jimmy Carter, Princess Diana, John Lennon, and athletes including George Best, Pelé, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, and Muhammad Ali.
Brennan’s photographs have appeared in publications around the world, including Sports Illustrated, Life, Rolling Stone, Stern, The New York Times, The Sunday Times, The Observer, and The Times of London. One of his most recognized portraits, of Muhammad Ali, is part of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery collection.