John Minihan also photographed Beckett in London in 1984, but pushed for another shoot the following year, in advance of Beckett's 80th birthday. "I don't think he realized, when we first met, that I had the tenacity to pursue him and maybe even become a bit of a pain in the arse." says Minihan.
John Minihan first made contact with Samuel Beckett when he was directing Endgame at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, west London, in the summer of 1980. A friend told Minihan that Beckett was staying at the Hyde Park hotel. He left a note for the playwright, rang the next morning and was put through. "That was our first communication," says Minihan. Beckett's note read 'Mr Minihan, thank you for your note. I would love to see the photographs of the wake.' My first impression was of a gentle voice. He put me immediately at ease. I was used to photo editors bollocking me, so when I went to phone anybody I'd be a bit terrified. But here was this calming voice inviting me to come and see him. "The following morning, I was told by the receptionist to go up to room 604. At the room, Mr Beckett opened the door with a smile on his face. He put me immediately at ease. He was dressed casually, wearing flip-flops. The room was a small one at the back of the hotel, overlooking the park. "'We sat down and I showed him the photographs. He looked at each one for a long time, and asked me about the people in them. He said. 'These are important pictures.' At the end of the meeting, after half an hour, I asked if I could go down to the Riverside and take some photographs there. He agreed, so I spent the next few days at the theatre."