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Born in Eichelsdorf, Bavaria, Germany; son of stage actors Oskar Ballhaus and Lena Hutter. Distinguished cinematographer who developed an interest in film after a relative, director Max Ophüls, allowed him to watch the filming of LOLA MONTES (1955). In 1970 Ballhaus shot the first of some 15 films for R.W. Fassbinder, before moving to the US in 1982. He has since worked with John Sayles, Volker Schlöndorff, Mike Nichols and -- most notably -- Martin Scorsese [AFTER HOURS (1985), THE COLOR OF MONEY (1986), THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST (1988), GOODFELLAS (1990), THE AGE OF INNOCENCE (1993) and GANGS OF NEW YORK (2002)]. Other notable (non-nominated) cinematography credits include LILI MARLEEN (1981), RECKLESS (1984), THE GLASS MENAGERIE (1987), DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS and WORKING GIRL (both 1988), POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE (1990), THE MAMBO KINGS and BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA (both 1992), QUIZ SHOW (1994), OUTBREAK (1995), SLEEPERS (1996), AIR FORCE ONE (1997), PRIMARY COLORS (1998), WILD WILD WEST (1999), WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM?, THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE and GONE UNDERGROUND (all 2000), UPTOWN GIRLS and SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE (both 2003), SONNTAGSLUFT (2005), and THE DEPARTED (2006). In 2007, Ballhaus received the International Award from the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC).  Nominated for Achievement in Cinematography 1987: BROADCAST NEWS  Nominated for Achievement in Cinematography 1989: THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS  Nominated for Achievement in Cinematography 2002: GANGS OF NEW YORK 3 nominations