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]
Ric Waite
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| Born | (1933-07-10)July 10, 1933
Sheboygan, Wisconsin, U.S.
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| Died | February 18, 2012(2012-02-18) (aged 78)
Los Angeles California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Cinematographer |
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]
Waite moved to Los Angeles in 1970.[1] 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 FootloosebyHerbert Ross; Red DawnbyJohn Milius; Brewster's Millions, a 1985 film also by Hill; Summer Rental by director Carl Reiner; VolunteersbyNicholas Meyer; CobrabyGeorge P. Cosmatos; and Adventures in BabysittingbyChris Columbus.[3]
Waite moved to the Denver metropolitan area in 2002.[3] He taught lighting and cinematography within the film studies department at the University of Colorado at Boulder.[1][3]
Waite 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]