| Birth name | Donald William Peterman |
|---|---|
| Birth date | January 3, 1932 |
| Birth place | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Death date | February 5, 2011 (aged 79) |
| Death place | Palos Verdes Estates, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Don Peterman |
| Years active | 1966–2000 |
| Organisation | American Society of Cinematographers |
Donald William Peterman, ASC (January 3, 1932 – February 5, 2011) was an American cinematographer.[1]
He was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the American Society of Cinematographers since 1984.[2]
Early life
Peterman was born in Los Angeles.[1]
He graduated from Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, California, before serving in the United States Army during the early 1950s. Peterman began shooting documentaries for the U.S. Army during his time in the service.
Career
Peterman began his professional career as a clapper loader for Hal Roach Studios at the age of 22 after leaving the U.S. Army.[1][2] He departed Hal Roach Studios for Cascade Studios, where he worked the optical printer and animation camera. Peterman left Cascade Studios to work on the Lassie television series, but later returned to Cascade Studios to become director of photography for the studio's television commercial productions.
In 1979, Peterman made his film debut as director of photography with the horror film, When a Stranger Calls. The film is described by Peterman as a "down-and-dirty production".[3] He was able to shoot nighttime scenes in six foot-candles of soft light without the aid of high-speed film stock or lenses.[3]
Peterman was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for Flashdance, before receiving his second nomination for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
In 1997, Peterman suffered an accident on the set of Mighty Joe Young.[1] He was on a platform suspended 18 feet from the ground when the crane holding the platform snapped, throwing Peterman to the ground. He suffered head injuries, a broken leg and broken ribs. A cameraman working with him was also injured in the accident. Production was delayed for two days, and Peterman was replaced by Oliver Wood for the remainder of principal photography.
Death
Peterman died at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, California, of myelodysplastic syndrome on February 5, 2011, at the age of 79.[1][2]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Domo Arigato | Arch Oboler | |
| 1979 | When a Stranger Calls | Fred Walton | |
| 1981 | King of the Mountain | Noel Nosseck | |
| Rich and Famous | George Cukor | ||
| 1982 | Young Doctors in Love | Garry Marshall | |
| Kiss Me Goodbye | Robert Mulligan | ||
| 1983 | Flashdance | Adrian Lyne | |
| 1984 | Splash | Ron Howard | |
| Best Defense | Willard Huyck | ||
| Mass Appeal | Glenn Jordan | ||
| 1985 | Cocoon | Ron Howard | |
| American Flyers | John Badham | ||
| 1986 | Gung Ho | Ron Howard | |
| Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home | Leonard Nimoy | ||
| 1987 | Planes, Trains and Automobiles | John Hughes | |
| 1988 | She's Having a Baby | ||
| 1989 | She's Out of Control | Stan Dragoti | |
| 1991 | Point Break | Kathryn Bigelow | |
| 1992 | Mr. Saturday Night | Billy Crystal | |
| 1993 | Addams Family Values | Barry Sonnenfeld | |
| 1994 | Speechless | Ron Underwood | |
| 1995 | Get Shorty | Barry Sonnenfeld | |
| 1997 | Men in Black | ||
| 1998 | Mighty Joe Young | Ron Underwood | With Oliver Wood |
| 2000 | How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Ron Howard |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Kolchak: The Night Stalker | Allen Baron | Episode "The Ripper" |
Documentary
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | The Far Sound | Jerry London | Documentary short |
| 1979 | UFOs: Past, Present, and Future | Ray Rivas | With Stan Laza |
Accolades
Academy Awards
| Year | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Best Cinematography | Flashdance | |
| 1986 | Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home |
American Society of Cinematographers
| Year | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography | Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home |
References
- ^ "Perry Moore, 'Narnia' series executive producer, dies at 39; Don Peterman, Oscar-nominated cinematographer, dies at 79; Nancy Carr, network TV publicist, dies at 50". Los Angeles Times. February 22, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
- ^ "'Flashdance' d.p. Don Peterman dies at 79". Variety. February 21, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
- ^ Fisher, Bob (March 8, 2011). "Remembering Don Peterman, ASC". ICG Magazine. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
External links
- Donald Peterman at IMDb