Born in Fondi, Italy. Superb craftsman who after several years as camera operator for Gianni De Venanzo (SALVATORE GIULANO, 8½, GIULIETTA DEGLI SPIRITI / JULIET OF THE SPIRITS, LA DECIMA VITTIMA / THE 10TH VICTIM, etc.) became a noted cinematographer himself. He won an Oscar® for the cinematography of Franco Zeffirelli's ROMEO AND JULIET (1968), becoming the first foreigner to win an Academy Award in that category. He also won the Italian David Di Donatello Award a number of times. Other notable cinematography credits include his first film as cinematographer, MOMENTO DELLA VERITÀ / MOMENT OF TRUTH (1965), and AMANTI (1968), LA CADUTA DEGLI DEI / THE DAMNED (1969), MORTE A VENEZIA / DEATH IN VENICE (1971), THE ASSASSINATION OF TROTSKY (1972), LUCKY LUCIANO (1973), LANCELOT DU LAC (1974), L'INNOCENTE (1976), UNA GIORNATA PARTICOLARE / A SPECIAL DAY (1977), TRE FRATELLI / THREE BROTHERS (1981), RIGOLETTO (1982), L'ARGENT / MONEY (1983), CARMEN (1984), SALOME (1986), A MONTH BY THE LAKE (1995), and LA TREGUA / THE TRUCE (1997). He was the brother of Oscar-nominated writer-director Giuseppe De Santis (1917 - 1997).  Cinematography 1968: ROMEO AND JULIET 1 nomination, 1 Award