Don Peterman dies at 79
Cinematographer was twice Oscar nominated
Cinematographer Don Peterman, who drew Oscar nominations for 1983's "Flashdance" and 1986's "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," died Feb. 5 in Palos Verdes Estates of complications from myelodysplastic syndrome, a bone marrow disorder. He was 79.Peterman's film credits also include "Splash" in 1984, "Cocoon" (1985), "Point Break" (1991) and "Get Shorty" (1995).
Born in Los Angeles, Donald William Peterman served in the Army in the early 1950s, traveling the country to film an Army documentary to air on television. After the service, he started working at Hal Roach Studios as a film loader at age 22.
From Roach he moved to Cascade Studios, where he worked with an animation camera and an optical printer. He exited to work on the "Lassie" series but returned to Cascade to work on commercials as staff director of photography.
He earned his first feature film credit as d.p. on the slasher film "When a Stranger Calls," released in 1979.
In 1997 Peterman was injured during lensing of "Mighty Joe Young." Peterman's last film was 2000's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
He was a member of the American Society of Cinematographers and of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
Peterman is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sally; a daughter and three sons; and 10 grandchildren.