Victor J. Kemper

Victor J. Kemper
Born	Victor Jay Kemper (1927-04-14)April 14, 1927 Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	November 27, 2023(2023-11-27) (aged 96) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Cinematographer
Years active	1967–2006
Notable work	Dog Day Afternoon Slap Shot The Jerk Clue Pee-wee's Big Adventure
Spouse	Claire Kellerman ​ (m. 1953)​
Children	2
President of the American Society of Cinematographers
In office 1993–1996
Preceded by	William A. Fraker
Succeeded by	Owen Roizman
In office 1999–2001
Preceded by	Woody Omens
Succeeded by	Steven B. Poster

Victor Jay Kemper (April 14, 1927 – November 27, 2023) was an American cinematographer.

Life and career

Victor Jay Kemper was born in Newark, New Jersey, on April 14, 1927, as the son of Florence (née Freedman) and Louis Kemper. He was a graduate of Seton Hall University.

As a cinematographer, Kemper collaborated extensively with director Arthur Hiller. Kemper worked with the leading directors of the 1970s including John Cassavetes, Sidney Lumet, Anthony Harvey, Michael Ritchie, Ulu Grosbard, Peter Yates, Karel Reisz, Elaine May, J. Lee Thompson, Elia Kazan, George Roy Hill, Robert Wise, Carl Reiner, Bob Rafelson, Irvin Kershner, Richard Attenborough, and Norman Jewison.

Kemper was a member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), and was its president twice, from 1993 to 1996, and from 1999 to 2001.

Kemper died in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles on November 27, 2023, at the age of 96.

Filmography

• The Tiger Makes Out (1967) (as camera operator)
• Alice's Restaurant (1969) (as camera operator)
• The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart (1970)
• Husbands (1970)
• They Might Be Giants (1971)
• Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? (1971)
• The Hospital (1971)
• The Candidate (1972)
• Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1972)
• Shamus (1973)
• The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973)
• Gordon's War (1973)
• From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (1973)
• The Gambler (1974)
• The Reincarnation of Peter Proud (1975)
• Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
• Stay Hungry (1976)
• The Last Tycoon (1976)
• Mikey and Nicky (1976)
• Slap Shot (1977)
• Audrey Rose (1977)
• The Prince of Central Park (1977, TV film)
• Oh, God! (1977)
• Coma (1978)
• The One and Only (1978)
• Eyes of Laura Mars (1978)
• Magic (1978)
• ...And Justice for All (1979)
• The Jerk (1979)
• Night of the Juggler (1980)
• The Final Countdown (1980)
• Xanadu (1980)
• The Four Seasons (1981)
• Chu Chu and the Philly Flash (1981)
• Partners (1982)
• Author! Author! (1982)
• Mr. Mom (1983)
• National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
• The Lonely Guy (1984)
• Cloak and Dagger (1984)
• Secret Admirer (1985)
• National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985)
• Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)
• Clue (1985)
• The Atlanta Child Murders (1985, TV mini-series)
• Kojak: The Price of Justice (1987, TV film)
• Walk Like a Man (1987)
• Hot to Trot (1988)
• Cohen and Tate (1988)
• See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989)
• Crazy People (1990)
• F/X2 (1991)
• Another You (1991)
• Married to It (1991)
• Beethoven (1992)
• Tommy Boy (1995)
• Eddie (1996)
• Jingle All the Way (1996)
• Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke (1999, TV film)
• On Golden Pond (2001, TV film)
• American Pie Presents: Band Camp (2005)
• Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006)

Awards and nominations

Institution	Year	Category	Work	Result
Primetime Emmy Awards	1987	Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Special	Kojak: The Price of Justice	Nominated
American Society of Cinematographers	1988	Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Mini-Series or Specials		Nominated
	1998	Lifetime Achievement Award	—	Won

External links

• Victor J. Kemper at IMDb