John M. Stephens

Person

John M. Stephens

Camera November 17, 1932

Valparaiso, Indiana, USA

John Morley Stephens (November 17, 1932 - June 18, 2015) was an American cinematographer. He pioneered a number of cinematographic devices, including the body camera mount for the…

IMDb

Known for

Popular titles

Titanic

Titanic

7.9 1997 Movie
Beethoven

Beethoven

5.8 1992 Movie
Midnight Run

Midnight Run

7.2 1988 Movie
¡Three Amigos!

¡Three Amigos!

6.3 1986 Movie
The Arrival

The Arrival

6.0 1996 Movie
Sorcerer

Sorcerer

7.5 1977 Movie
Marked for Death

Marked for Death

6.1 1990 Movie
Major League II

Major League II

5.7 1994 Movie
Boxcar Bertha

Boxcar Bertha

5.8 1972 Movie
Grand Prix

Grand Prix

7.3 1966 Movie
Ice Station Zebra

Ice Station Zebra

6.4 1968 Movie
Oklahoma!

Oklahoma!

6.6 1955 Movie

Biography

A closer look

Read full biography

John Morley Stephens (November 17, 1932 - June 18, 2015) was an American cinematographer. He pioneered a number of cinematographic devices, including the body camera mount for the 1966 film Seconds, and the world's first remotely operated pan-and-tilt-head camera. As a cinematographer, Stephens was known for his work on such films as Billy Jack, Blacula, Martin Scorsese's Boxcar Bertha, and William Friedkin's Sorcerer. He also shot the memorable bicycle chase for Steven Spielberg's E.T., though he did not receive on-screen credit for his work.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

  1. 2003
    Tremors

    TV show Second Unit Director

  2. 1999
    Baby Huey's Great Easter Adventure

    Movie Director of Photography

  3. 1997
    Titanic

    Movie Second Unit Director of Photography

  4. 1996
    Overkill

    Movie Director of Photography

  5. 1996
    The Arrival

    Movie Aerial Camera

  6. 1994
    Major League II

    Movie Second Unit Director of Photography

  7. 1993
    Undercover Blues

    Movie Second Unit Director of Photography

  8. 1992
    Out on a Limb

    Movie Second Unit Director of Photography

  9. 1992
    Beethoven

    Movie Second Unit Director of Photography

  10. 1991
    V.I. Warshawski

    Movie Second Unit Director of Photography

  11. 1991
    The Marla Hanson Story

    Movie Director of Photography

  12. 1991
    Eve of Destruction

    Movie Camera Operator

  13. 1990
    Marked for Death

    Movie Second Unit Director of Photography

  14. 1990
    Ski Patrol

    Movie Director of Photography

  15. 1988
    Midnight Run

    Movie Aerial Director of Photography

  16. 1987
    Steele Justice

    Movie Director of Photography

More credits
  1. 1987
    Crystalstone

    Movie Director of Photography

  2. 1986
    ¡Three Amigos!

    Movie Second Unit Director

  3. 1985
    Half Nelson

    Movie Cinematography

  4. 1977
    Sorcerer

    Movie Director of Photography

  5. 1975
    Rocky Mountain Christmas

    Movie Camera Operator

  6. 1975
    Switch

    Movie Director of Photography

  7. 1974
    Roll, Freddy, Roll!

    Movie Director of Photography

  8. 1974
    The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go

    Movie Director of Photography

  9. 1974
    Pray for the Wildcats

    Movie Director of Photography

  10. 1973
    Outrage!

    Movie Director of Photography

  11. 1973
    Dying Room Only

    Movie Director of Photography

  12. 1973
    Little Cigars

    Movie Director of Photography

  13. 1972
    Blacula

    Movie Director of Photography

  14. 1972
    Boxcar Bertha

    Movie Director of Photography

  15. 1972
    Black Rodeo

    Movie Camera Operator

  16. 1972
    Probe

    Movie Director of Photography

  17. 1971
    Bunny O'Hare

    Movie Director of Photography

  18. 1971
    Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location

    Movie Camera Operator

  19. 1971
    Billy Jack

    Movie Director of Photography

  20. 1971
    Yuma

    Movie Director of Photography

  21. 1969
    Gidget Grows Up

    Movie Director of Photography

  22. 1969
    The Fantastic Plastic Machine

    Movie Cinematography

  23. 1969
    Run, Angel, Run!

    Movie Director of Photography

  24. 1968
    Ice Station Zebra

    Movie Additional Photography