Kevin Rafferty
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photo of Kevin Rafferty
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| Born | (1947-05-25)May 25, 1947
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Died | July 2, 2020(2020-07-02) (aged 73)
Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
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| Occupation(s) | Cinematographer Film director Film producer |
| Known for | Documentary films |
Kevin Gelshenen Rafferty II (May 25, 1947 – July 2, 2020) was an American documentary film cinematographer, director, and producer, best known for his 1982 documentary The Atomic Cafe.[1][2]
Rafferty was born in Boston on May 25, 1947.[3] He studied architecture at Harvard and film at the California Institute of the Arts.[4] He helped teach the craft of filmmaking to Michael Moore during the production of Roger &Me in 1989, and Moore has acknowledged Rafferty's influence on his own filmmaking. Rafferty teamed up with his brother Pierce and Jayne Loader[5] to produce the cult classic documentary film The Atomic Cafe.[6] He was the director, producer, editor and cinematographer of many documentary projects, including Blood in the Face, The War Room, Feed, and The Last Cigarette.[4][7] His last project was Harvard Beats Yale 29-29.[8]
Rafferty was a nephew of Barbara Bush, and a cousin of George W. Bush.[9]
Rafferty died from cancer at his home in Manhattan on July 2, 2020, at age 73.[3]
Thom Powers of Harvardwood writes that Rafferty is "renowned for his wit and fresh perspectives on American culture".[7] His various films have received positive reception. Of Hurry Tomorrow, Rafferty's documentary indictment of a California State psychiatric hospital, Colin Bennet of The Age wrote "Its anger and courage are the kind that lead to reform".[10] Michael Atkinson of IFC calls Rafferty's latest, Harvard Beats Yale 29-29, "a hypnotic pleasure,"[8] and Fast Company calls it an "engrossing documentary" which was "the best sports film we've seen in years",[11] and Manohla Dargis of New York Times writes "while it seems absurd to include such a picayune event in the annals, the filmmaker Kevin Rafferty makes the case for remembrance and for the art of the story in his preposterously entertaining documentary Harvard Beats Yale 29-29".[12]
The Atomic Cafe had received praise as one of the best Cold War movies of all time.[13][14]
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