Who was Victor J. Kemper? Veteran American Cinematographer Dead at 96

Victor J. Kemper, the accomplished cinematographer and former president of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), has passed away at the age of 96, as reported by the ASC. Kemper’s illustrious career, spanning four decades, included a diverse array of films such as “Dog Day Afternoon” and “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.”

Kemper collaborated with several luminaries of ’70s cinema, including John Cassavetes, Arthur Hiller, Michael Ritchie, Peter Yates, Sidney Lumet, George Roy Hill, Robert Wise, Carl Reiner, Richard Attenborough, and Norman Jewison.

His cinematic journey began with Cassavetes’ “Husbands,” an experience that served as an invaluable education. Reflecting on the production, Kemper recalled, “We shot more than a million-and-a-half feet of film during 10 weeks in New York and 12 weeks in London. That’s the way Cassavetes worked.” He continued his collaboration with Cassavetes on “Mikey & Nicky.”

Kemper’s extensive filmography includes notable works such as “The Candidate,” “And Justice for All,” “Audrey Rose,” “Slap Shot,” “Oh God!,” “The Gambler,” “The Jerk,” “The Four Seasons,” “Coma,” “Mr. Mom,” “Magic,” “Eyes of Laura Mars,” “Author! Author!,” “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” “Tommy Boy,” “Beethoven,” and “Jingle All the Way.”

Reflecting on his varied career, Kemper noted that he found comedy more challenging to shoot than drama, emphasizing the importance of timing in eliciting humor. “Timing is essential,” he said, “The reactions of people in the cast, the scenery and environment are all part of every joke.”

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to cinematography, Kemper was honored with the American Society of Cinematographers’ Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998.

The ASC paid tribute to Kemper on social media, expressing their sorrow and stating, “We were very sorry to learn last night that former Society president Victor J. Kemper, ASC has passed away.”