Thomas Del Ruth


Thomas Del Ruth is a retired American cinematographer.

Early life

Del Ruth was born in 1942 in Beverly Hills, California, as the son of film director Roy Del Ruth, and Singer and Musical star Winnie Lightner.
He was educated at Van Nuys High School and the University of Southern California and began working in the Motion Picture business as a Messenger at WB in 1959 and again at Disney Studios in 1965,

Career

Del Ruth switched from being in front of the camera to being behind it in 1967 and was promoted to director of photography in 1979 by Universal Studios.
He has received two Emmy Awards for outstanding cinematography as well as six additional Emmy nominations. In addition, he has won four American Society of Cinematographers Outstanding Cinematography Awards as well as an additional seven ASC nominations.
Del Ruth is a member of the American Society of Cinematographers, as well as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
He has experience as assistant director, producer and director.

Filmography

Film

Television

TV movies
YearTitleDirectorNotes
1979She's Dressed to KillGus Trikonis
1980Mark, I Love YouGunnar Hellström
1981This House PossessedWilliam Wiard
1981Elvis and the Beauty QueenGus Trikonis
1982Help Wanted: MaleWilliam Wiard
1982Million Dollar InfieldHal Cooper
1982Paper DollsEdward Zwick
1982In Love with an Older WomanJack Bender
1983Who Will Love My Children?John Erman
1983Intimate AgonyPaul Wendkos
1984Best Kept SecretsJerrold Freedman
1986Blind JusticeRod Holcomb
1986Who Is Julia?Walter Grauman
1988LadykillersRobert Michael Lewis
1989Dream BreakersStuart Millar
1992T Bone N WeaselLewis Teague
1993Barbarians at the GateGlenn JordanWith Nicholas D. Knowland
1993Donato and DaughterRod Holcomb
1993House of SecretsMimi Leder
1994Shattered ImageFritz Kiersch
1994RoyceRod Holcomb
1994Next DoorTony Bill
1994One ChristmasTony BillWith Donald M. Morgan
1995My Brother's KeeperGlenn Jordan
1995Abandoned and DeceivedJoseph Dougherty
1996Chasing the DragonIan Sander
1996Full CircleBethany Rooney
1997AsteroidBradford MayWith David Hennings
1997When the Cradle FallsPaul Schneider
1997The UnderworldRod Holcomb
1999Down Will Come BabyGregory Goodell
1999It Came from the SkyJack Bender
2005HeartlessRobert Markowitz
2005Code BreakersRod Holcomb

Awards and nominations

Primetime Emmy Awards
YearCategoryTitleResultRef.
1995Outstanding Individual Achievement in Cinematography for a Miniseries or a SpecialMy Brother's KeeperNomitated

YearCategoryTitleResultRef.
2000Outstanding Cinematography for a Single Camera SeriesThe West WingWon
2001Outstanding Cinematography for a Single Camera SeriesThe West WingWon
2002Outstanding Cinematography for a Single Camera SeriesThe West WingNomitated
2003Outstanding Cinematography for a Single Camera SeriesThe West WingNomitated
2004Outstanding Cinematography for a Single Camera SeriesThe West WingNomitated
2007Outstanding Cinematography for a Single Camera SeriesStudio 60 on the Sunset StripNomitated

American Society of Cinematographers
YearCategoryTitleResultRef.
1994Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week/PilotsThe X-FilesNomitated
1995Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week/PilotsERWon
1999Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week/PilotsThe West WingWon
2005Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week/PilotsCode BreakersNomitated
2006Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week/PilotsStudio 60 on the Sunset StripNomitated

YearCategoryTitleResultRef.
1995Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular SeriesERWon
1999Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular SeriesThe West WingWon
2000Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular SeriesThe West WingWon
2001Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular SeriesThe West WingWon
2002Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular SeriesThe West WingNomitated
2003Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular SeriesThe West WingNomitated