# Victor J. Kemper

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

Director of photography

### Film

| Year | Film | Director | Notes |
| 1970 | The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart | Leonard Horn | |
| 1970 | Husbands | John Cassavetes | |
| 1971 | They Might Be Giants | Anthony Harvey | |
| 1971 | Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? | Ulu Grosbard | |
| 1971 | The Hospital | Arthur Hiller | Second collaboration with Arthur Hiller |
| 1972 | The Candidate | Michael Ritchie | |
| 1972 | Last of the Red Hot Lovers | Gene Saks | |
| 1973 | Shamus | Buzz Kulik | |
| 1973 | The Friends of Eddie Coyle | Peter Yates | |
| 1973 | Gordon's War | Ossie Davis | |
| 1973 | From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler | Fielder Cook | |
| 1974 | The Gambler | Karel Reisz | |
| 1975 | The Reincarnation of Peter Proud | J. Lee Thompson | |
| 1975 | Dog Day Afternoon | Sidney Lumet | |
| 1976 | Stay Hungry | Bob Rafelson | |
| 1976 | The Last Tycoon | Elia Kazan | |
| 1976 | Mikey and Nicky | Elaine May | |
| 1977 | Slap Shot | George Roy Hill | |
| 1977 | Audrey Rose | Robert Wise | |
| 1977 | Oh, God! | Carl Reiner | First collaboration with Carl Reiner |
| 1978 | Coma | Michael Crichton | |
| 1978 | The One and Only | Carl Reiner | Second collaboration with Carl Reiner |
| 1978 | Eyes of Laura Mars | Irvin Kershner | |
| 1978 | Magic | Richard Attenborough | |
| 1979 | ...And Justice for All | Norman Jewison | |
| 1979 | The Jerk | Carl Reiner | Third collaboration with Carl Reiner |
| 1980 | Night of the Juggler | Robert Butler | |
| 1980 | The Final Countdown | Don Taylor | |
| 1980 | Xanadu | Robert Greenwald | |
| 1981 | The Four Seasons | Alan Alda | |
| 1981 | Chu Chu and the Philly Flash | David Lowell Rich | |
| 1982 | Partners | James Burrows | |
| 1982 | Author! Author! | Arthur Hiller | Third collaboration with Arthur Hiller |
| 1983 | Mr. Mom | Stan Dragoti | |
| 1983 | Vacation | Harold Ramis | |
| 1984 | The Lonely Guy | Arthur Hiller | Fourth collaboration with Arthur Hiller |
| 1984 | Cloak & Dagger | Richard Franklin | First collaboration with Richard Franklin |
| 1985 | Secret Admirer | David Greenwalt | |
| 1985 | Pee-wee's Big Adventure | Tim Burton | |
| 1985 | Clue | Jonathan Lynn | |
| 1987 | Walk Like a Man | Melvin Frank | |
| 1988 | Hot to Trot | Michael Dinner | |
| 1988 | Cohen and Tate | Eric Red | |
| 1989 | See No Evil, Hear No Evil | Arthur Hiller | Fifth collaboration with Arthur Hiller |
| 1990 | Crazy People | Tony Bill | |
| 1991 | F/X2 | Richard Franklin | Second collaboration with Richard Franklin |
| 1991 | Another You | Maurice Phillips | |
| 1991 | Married to It | Arthur Hiller | Sixth collaboration with Arthur Hiller |
| 1992 | Beethoven | Brian Levant | First collaboration with Brian Levant |
| 1995 | Tommy Boy | Peter Segal | |
| 1996 | Eddie | Steve Rash | First collaboration with Steve Rash |
| 1996 | Jingle All the Way | Brian Levant | Second collaboration with Brian Levant |
Camera and electrical department
| Year | Film | Director | Role | Notes |
| 1967 | The Tiger Makes Out | Arthur Hiller | Camera operator | First collaboration with Arthur Hiller |
| 1969 | Alice's Restaurant | Arthur Penn | Camera operator | |
| 1985 | European Vacation | Amy Heckerling | Director of photography: USA | |

### Direct-to-video films

| Year | Film | Director | Notes |
| 2005 | American Pie Presents: Band Camp | Steve Rash | Second collaboration with Steve Rash |
| 2006 | Bring It On: All or Nothing | Steve Rash | Third collaboration with Steve Rash |

### Documentaries

Thanks
| Year | Film | Director | Role |
| 1992 | Visions of Light | Arnold GlassmanStuart SamuelsTodd McCarthy | Special thanks: AFI |
| 2004 | Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen | Michael Palm | Thanks |

### TV movies

| Year | Film | Director |
| 1977 | The Prince of Central Park | Harvey Hart |
| 1985 | The Atlanta Child Murders | John Erman |
| 1987 | Kojak: The Price of Justice | Alan Metzger |
| 1999 | Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke | John Erman |
| 2001 | On Golden Pond | Ernest ThompsonMarty Pasetta |

### TV series

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1985 | The Atlanta Child Murders | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke | 4 episodes |

## 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 | Kojak: The Price of Justice | Nominated |
| American Society of Cinematographers | 1998 | Lifetime Achievement Award | — | Won |