Donald E. Thorin
Donald E. Thorin | |
|---|---|
| Born | Donald Eugene Thorin October 12, 1934[1] Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.[1] |
| Died | February 9, 2016 (aged 81)[2][3] Tucson, Arizona, U.S.[3] |
| Other name | Donald Thorin |
| Alma mater | Creighton University |
| Occupation | Cinematographers |
| Years active | 1958–2003 |
| Organization | American Society of Cinematographers |
Donald Eugene Thorin, ASC (October 12, 1934 – February 9, 2016) was an American cinematographer.
Early life
Thorin was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and graduated from Creighton University.[4] In 1957, he went to Hollywood and started working as mailroom at 20th Century Fox.[1] Later he moved to camera department as camera loader, and started his cinematographer career from the 2nd camera assistant on The Young Lions.[1] He also worked as a commercial desginer.[5]
Career
During the 1970s, he worked as a camera operator for notable cinematographers like Richard H. Kline, Jordan Cronenweth, Haskell Wexler, Owen Roizman and Gordon Willis. Thorin's first feature film as cinematographer was Thief (1981), the directorial debut of Michael Mann.[4] Thorin's slick, neo-noir photography was singled out in praise by critics at the time.
He worked with Taylor Hackford (An Officer and a Gentleman, Against All Odds), Michael Ritchie (Wildcats, The Golden Child, The Couch Trip), Martin Brest (Midnight Run, Scent of a Woman), and Steve Oedekerk (Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, Nothing to Lose). Thorin was also cinematographer on well-known films such as Purple Rain, Lock Up and Tango & Cash, Boys on the Side, The First Wives Club, and Shaft. Critic Odie Henderson called his work on Purple Rain "awe-inspiring, both in shot composition and lighting."[4]
He joined the American Society of Cinematographers in 1986.[5]
Personal life
Throin was married to his wife Dagmar for over 40 years. He was the father of cinematographer and TV director Donald E. Thorin Jr. (born 1957), and camera operator Jeffrey Thorin (born 1961).[4]
Death
Aged 81, Thorin died in Tucson, Arizona on February 9, 2016.[4]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Thief | Michael Mann |
| 1982 | An Officer and a Gentleman | Taylor Hackford |
| 1983 | Bad Boys | Rick Rosenthal |
| 1984 | Against All Odds | Taylor Hackford |
| Purple Rain | Albert Magnoli | |
| 1985 | Mischief | Mel Damski |
| 1986 | Wildcats | Michael Ritchie |
| American Anthem | Albert Magnoli | |
| The Golden Child | Michael Ritchie | |
| 1988 | The Couch Trip | |
| Midnight Run | Martin Brest | |
| 1989 | Troop Beverly Hills | Jeff Kanew |
| Collision Course | Lewis Teague | |
| Lock Up | John Flynn | |
| Tango & Cash | Andrei Konchalovsky | |
| 1991 | The Marrying Man | Jerry Rees |
| 1992 | Out on a Limb | Francis Veber |
| Scent of a Woman | Martin Brest | |
| 1993 | Undercover Blues | Herbert Ross |
| 1994 | Little Big League | Andrew Scheinman |
| 1995 | Boys on the Side | Herbert Ross |
| Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls | Steve Oedekerk | |
| 1996 | The First Wives Club | Hugh Wilson |
| 1997 | Nothing to Lose | Steve Oedekerk |
| 1999 | Mickey Blue Eyes | Kelly Makin |
| Dudley Do-Right | Hugh Wilson | |
| 2000 | Shaft | John Singleton |
| 2003 | Head of State | Chris Rock |
References
- 1 2 3 4 "DONALD THORIN". cinematographers.nl. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
- ↑ Witmer, Jon D. (May 1, 2016). "In Memoriam: Don Thorin Sr., ASC, 1934-2016". American Cinematographer. 97 (5). Los Angeles, California, U.S.: American Society of Cinematographers: 93. ISSN 0002-7928.
- 1 2 "Donald Thorin Obituary - Tucson, Arizona". Legacy.com. February 10, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Barnes, Mike (April 28, 2016). "Donald E. Thorin, Cinematographer on 'Purple Rain,' Dies at 81". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
- 1 2 "DONALD THORIN". www.cinematographers.nl. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
External links