Ric Waite

Ric Waite
Born(1933-07-10)July 10, 1933
DiedFebruary 18, 2012(2012-02-18) (aged 78)
Los Angeles California, U.S.
OccupationCinematographer

Ric Waite (July 10, 1933 – February 18, 2012) was an American cinematographer whose numerous film and television credits included Red Dawn, Footloose, 48 Hrs., and The Long Riders.[1] Waite received four Emmy nominations during his career.[1] He won his only Emmy for his work on the 1976 television miniseries Captains and the Kings.[1][2][3]

Life and career

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Waite was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.[1]

He enlisted in the United States Air Force after graduation from high school and was a member of the Air Force's Photo Intelligence unit.[3] He moved to New York City, where he owned a studio as a professional photographer.[1] Waite specialized in advertising and fashion photography. His clients included Jaguar Cars, Glamour, Vogue, Hanes, DuPont, and GQ.[1][3]

In 1970, Waite moved to Los Angeles. His earliest work as a cinematographer was in television, including the 1970s television series Emergency!, City of Angels, and Police Story.[3] He also shot many television films including Tail Gunner Joe in 1977, in which he earned an Emmy nomination; The Life and Assassination of the Kingfish, released in 1977, for which he received another Emmy nomination; Dead of Night and Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill, which aired in 1979.[3] Waite earned his fourth and final Emmy nomination in 1996 for the television film Andersonville.[3]

Waite's feature film debut as a cinematographer was The Long Riders, a 1980 Western film directed by Walter Hill.[3] His numerous film credits as director of photography included Footloose by Herbert Ross; Red Dawn by John Milius; Brewster's Millions, a 1985 film also by Hill; Summer Rental by director Carl Reiner; Volunteers by Nicholas Meyer; Cobra by George P. Cosmatos; and Adventures in Babysitting by Chris Columbus.[3]

In 2002, Waite moved to the Denver metropolitan area.[3] He taught lighting and cinematography within the film studies department at the University of Colorado at Boulder.[1][3]

He also shot Best Ribs in Town and Assassins' Code.[3] He had signed on as the cinematographer for the film Legacy.[3]

Waite died from a heart attack at his home in Los Angeles on February 18, 2012, at the age of 78.[2]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Director Notes
1971 The Day of the Wolves Ferde Grofe Jr.
1974 A Time for Love Rick Jason
Goodnight Jackie' Jerry London
1978 The Other Side of the Mountain: Part II Larry Peerce
1980 Defiance John Flynn
On the Nickel Ralph Waite
The Long Riders Walter Hill
1982 The Border Tony Richardson
Tex Tim Hunter
48 Hrs. Walter Hill
1983 Class Lewis John Carlino
1984 Footloose Herbert Ross
Red Dawn John Milius
1985 Brewster's Millions Walter Hill
Summer Rental Carl Reiner Also 2nd unit director
Volunteers Nicholas Meyer
1986 Cobra George P. Cosmatos
1987 Adventures in Babysitting Chris Columbus
1988 Rambo III Peter MacDonald Uncredited
The Great Outdoors Howard Deutch
1990 Marked for Death Dwight H. Little
1991 Out for Justice John Flynn
1992 Rapid Fire Dwight H. Little
1994 On Deadly Ground Steven Seagal
1997 Truth or Consequences, N.M. Kiefer Sutherland
1999 Woman Wanted
2004 Fallacy Jeff Jensen
2009 Best Ribs in Town David Mikalson
2011 Assassins' Code Lawrence Riggins With Richard Lerner

Television

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Year Title Director Notes
1973 Police Story David Friedkin
John Llewellyn Moxey
2 episodes
1974 Nakia Leonard J. Horn Pilot
Temperatures Rising Herbert Kenwith 2 episodes
1974-1975 Emergency! Georg Fenady
Kevin Tighe
Christian I. Nyby II
Joseph Pevney
Don Richardson
James W. Gavin
Richard C. Bennett
Wes McAfee
20 episodes
1975-1976 Medical Story Don Medford
Paul Wendkos
Ralph Senensky
Robert L. Collins
4 episodes
1976 City of Angels Don Medford
Sigmund Neufeld, Jr.
Robert Douglas
Alan Reisner
Barry Shear
Douglas Heyes
Jerry London
Hy Averback
Ralph Senensky
12 episodes
1976 Captains and the Kings Douglas Heyes
Allen Reisner
Miniseries
1977 Most Wanted Virgil W. Vogel Episode "The Pirate"
Wonder Woman Stuart Margolin
Bruce Bilson
2 episodes
1980 Freebie and the Bean Lawrence Dobkin Episode "The Seduction of the Bean"
1995 Nowhere Man Tobe Hooper
James Darren
James Whitmore Jr.
Thomas J. Wright
4 episodes

TV movies

Year Title Director Notes
1977 Tail Gunner Joe Jud Taylor
The Life and Assassination of the Kingfish Robert L. Collins
Dead of Night Dan Curtis
Red Alert William Hale
1978 The Initiation of Sarah Robert Day
A Question of Guilt Robert Butler
Leave Yesterday Behind Richard Michaels
A Guide for the Married Woman Hy Averback
1979 Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill Joel Schumacher
Charleston Karen Arthur
Steeletown Robert L. Collins With Gil Hubbs
And Baby Makes Six Waris Hussein
Nero Wolfe Frank D. Gilroy
1980 The Comeback Kid Peter Levin
A Perfect Match Mel Damski
Revenge of the Stepford Wives Robert Fuest
Baby Comes Home Waris Hussein
1983 Dempsey Gus Trikonis With Sol Negrin
1985 Midas Valley
1987 You Ruined My Life David Ashwell Segment of The Magical World of Disney
1988 Police Story: Burnout Michael Switzer
1993 Last Light Kiefer Sutherland
1996 Andersonville John Frankenheimer
1997 Last Stand at Saber River Dick Lowry
Heart Full of Rain Roger Young
Hope Goldie Hawn
1998 Money Plays Frank D. Gilroy
1999 Absence of the Good John Flynn
2000 Ratz Thom Eberhardt
2001 A Mother's Fight for Justice Thomas Rickman
Love and Treason Lewis Teague
The Triangle

Awards and nominations

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Primetime Emmy Awards

Year Title Category Result
1977 Tail Gunner Joe Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Nominated
The Life and Assassination of the Kingfish Nominated
Captains and the Kings Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (One Hour) Won
1996 Andersonville Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Giardina, Carolyn (2012-02-21). "Cinematographer Ric Waite Dies at 78". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
  2. ^ a b "Passings: Michael Davis, Dick Anthony Williams, Ric Waite". Los Angeles Times. 2012-02-21. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Cinematographer Ric Waite dies, Shot 'Footloose,' '48 Hrs.,' won Emmy". Variety. 2012-02-21. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
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