Born in New York City. A former mechanical engineer, he entered films as a lab technician, but his off-the-job photography on experimental films soon attracted the attention of producers and he moved behind the camera. A creative, innovative lighting cameraman, he was one of the first to use a zoom lens. He gained an industrywide reputation for his understated black-and-white photography in the 30s and for his brilliant color work from the 40s. For 30 years his style dominated production quality at Fox. In the 50s he helped many directors at Fox adapt to the requirements of CinemaScope by making sensible use of this and other widescreen processes. Along with Charles B. Lang, he holds the record for having been nominated for an Oscar more times (18) than any other Director of Photography. However, Shamroy won four Oscars; Lang won one. Shamroy is one of only five cinematographers to have a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was married to actress Mary Anderson from 1953 until his death in 1974. With almost 120 feature films, some of Shamroy's notable non-nominated credits include his first film, LIGHTNING HUTCH (1926), THE STORY OF ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL, SECOND FIDDLE and THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (all 1939), LILLIAN RUSSELL and TIN PAN ALLEY (both 1940), MOON OVER MIAMI and A YANK IN THE R.A.F. (both 1941), ROXIE HART (1942), CRASH DIVE and STORMY WEATHER (both 1943), A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN and STATE FAIR (both 1945), THE SHOCKING MISS PILGRIM, FOREVER AMBER and DAISY KENYON (all 1947), THAT LADY IN ERMINE and TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH (both 1949), CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (1950), ON THE RIVIERA (1951), WITH A SONG IN MY HEART (1952), CALL ME MADAM and KING OF THE KHYBER RIFLES (both 1953), THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS (1954), DADDY LONG LEGS and GOOD MORNING, MISS DOVE (both 1955), THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE and THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT (both 1956), DESK SET (1957), RALLY 'ROUND THE FLAG, BOYS! and THE BLUE ANGEL (both 1958), NORTH TO ALASKA (1960), TENDER IS THE NIGHT (1962), WHAT A WAY TO GO! (1964), JOHN GOLDFARB, PLEASE COME HOME (1965), THE GLASS BOTTOM BOAT (1966), CAPRICE (1967), PLANET OF THE APES, THE SECRET LIFE OF AN AMERICAN WIFE and SKIDOO (all 1968) and his last film, JUSTINE (1969). Some notable Shamroy quotes: · "God was a great photographer. He'd only gotten one light." · "Lee Garmes will never see the day that he's as good as I am, and that goes for anybody in the motion picture business."  Nominated for Cinematography 1938: THE YOUNG IN HEART  Nominated for Cinematography (Color) 1940: DOWN ARGENTINE WAY (w. Ray Rennahan)  Cinematography (Color) 1942: THE BLACK SWAN  Nominated for Cinematography (Black and White) 1942: TEN GENTLEMEN FROM WEST POINT  Cinematography (Color) 1944: WILSON  Cinematography (Color) 1945: LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN  Nominated for Cinematography (Black and White) 1949: PRINCE OF FOXES  Nominated for Cinematography (Color) 1951: DAVID AND BATHSHEBA  Nominated for Cinematography (Color) 1952: THE SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO  Nominated for Cinematography (Color) 1953: THE ROBE  Nominated for Cinematography (Color) 1954: THE EGYPTIAN  Nominated for Cinematography (Color) 1955: LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING  Nominated for Cinematography (Color) 1956: THE KING AND I  Nominated for Cinematography (Color) 1958: SOUTH PACIFIC  Nominated for Cinematography (Color) 1959: PORGY AND BESS  Nominated for Cinematography (Color) 1963: THE CARDINAL  Cinematography (Color) 1963: CLEOPATRA  Nominated for Cinematography (Color) 1965: THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY 18 nominations, 4 Awards