Victor J. Kemper was a cinematographer known for his work on such films as “Dog Day Afternoon,” “The Jerk,” and “Slap Shot.”
- Died: November 27, 2023 (Who else died on November 27?)
- Details of death: Died in Los Angeles of natural causes at the age of 96.
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Victor J. Kemper’s legacy
Kemper was renowned for his technique of making the movies he shot look real. His first major credit was on John Cassavetes’ (1929–1989) “Husbands.” He went on to collaborate with many notable directors, including repeated partnerships with Arthur Hiller (1923–2016) and Carl Reiner (1922–2020). With Hiller, Kemper worked on “The Tiger Makes Out,” “The Hospital,” “The Lonely Guy,” “See No Evil, Hear No Evil,” “Married to It,” and “Author! Author!” while he shot “The One and Only,” “The Jerk,” and “Oh, God!” for Reiner.
Kemper worked with Tim Burton on the movie that made Paul Reubens (1952–2023) a star, “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” and his work was seen on other classic comedies of the 1980s and ‘90s, including “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” “Clue,” “Mr. Mom,” and “Tommy Boy.” His commitment to cinematography included wearing skates to film scenes on the ice for “Slap Shot.” Kemper’s many other movies included “Last of the Red Hot Lovers,” “Eyes of Laura Mars,” “Xanadu,” “Beethoven,” and “Jingle All the Way.”
In the 1990s and early 2000s, Kemper served as president of the American Society of Cinematographers. He was honored with the guild’s lifetime achievement award.
Tributes to Victor J. Kemper
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
