Born in Los Angeles. Began as a lab assistant and after a period of apprenticeship as an assistant cameraman made his first film as a lighting cameraman in 1935. A creative all-around craftsman, he achieved impressive effects with black-and-white contrasting and twilight and night cinematography in two Orson Welles films, THE STRANGER (1946) and A TOUCH OF EVIL (1958). He is also known for his mastery of complex crane shots. Other (non-nominated) cinematography credits include NO, NO, NANETTE (1940), JOAN OF PARIS, THE BIG STREET, HITLER'S CHILDREN and uncredited additionals scenes for THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS (all 1942), THE STORY OF G.I. JOE (1945), RIDE THE PINK HORSE (1947), ALL MY SONS, KISS THE BLOOD OFF MY HANDS and MR. PEABODY AND THE MERMAID (all 1948), AGAINST ALL FLAGS (1952), MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION (1954), WRITTEN ON THE WIND (1956), MAN OF A THOUSAND FACES (1957), IMITATION OF LIFE and THIS EARTH IS MINE (both 1958), MIDNIGHT LACE (1960), THE MISFITS (1961), THAT TOUCH OF MINK, THE INTERNS and IF A MAN ANSWERS (all 1962), THE THRILL OF IT ALL and CAPTAIN NEWMAN, M.D. (both 1963), BUS RILEY'S BACK IN TOWN (1965), TEXAS ACROSS THE RIVER, MADAME X and THE APPALOOSA (all 1966), THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (1967), MADIGAN (1968), CHANGE OF HABIT (1969), THE OMEGA MAN (1971) and BEN (1972). He worked extensively in television as well, especially on the "Columbo" and "The Waltons" series.  Cinematography (Color) 1960: SPARTACUS  Nominated for Cinematography (Color) 1961: FLOWER DRUM SONG 2 nominations, 1 Award