Born in Los Angeles, CA; son of cinematographer Robert L. Surtees (1906-1985). He asserted himself in the early 1970s as a highly skilled cinematographer and was busy ever since. Nominated for an Oscar® for the black-and-white photography of LENNY (1974). Other notable (non-nominated) cinematography credits include a dozen Clint Eastwood films: THE BEGUILED, PLAY MISTY FOR ME and DIRTY HARRY (all 1971), HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER and JOE KIDD (both 1972), THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES (1976), ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ (1979), FIREFOX and HONKYTONK MAN (both 1982), SUDDEN IMPACT (1983), TIGHTROPE (1984) and PALE RIDER (1985); as well as CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (1972), BLUME IN LOVE (1973), NIGHT MOVES (1975), THE SHOOTIST and LEADBELLY (both 1976), INCHON (1981), BAD BOYS and RISKY BUSINESS (both 1983), BEVERLY HILLS COP (1984), PSYCHO III (1986), MEN DON'T LEAVE (1990), THE SUPER (1991), THE STARS FELL ON HENRIETTA (1995), THE SUBSTITUTE (1996) and JOSHUA (2002). His television work includes the made-for-TV movies "Murder in a Small Town" (1999), "That Championship Season" (1999), "Thin Air" (2000), "American Tragedy" (2000) and "And Never Let Her Go" (2001).  Nominated for Cinematography 1974: LENNY 1 nomination