Robert Reed Altman
Robert Reed Altman has served as a camera operator and director of photography on an impressive number of award-winning feature films and television series since the maverick days of American filmmaking in the 1970s.
The son of legendary filmmaker Robert Altman and Kathryn Reed, Altman grew up with a passion for film in his blood. Altman began his career serving as assistant camera on the films that would catapult the elder Altman into the pantheon of great American directors: Nashville (1975), Buffalo Bill and the Indians (1976), A Wedding (1978), Popeye (1979), Health (1982), Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1982), Streamers (1983), and Fool for Love (1985). Many of these films, now considered classics, also garnered critical praise, including numerous Academy Awards for Nashville.
Following this succession of Hollywood hits, Altman shifted gears and gravitated to television where he served as camera operator on the acclaimed TV series Alien Nation (1989), Tales of the City (1993), Melrose Place (1992), and Robert Altman's Gun (1997). Altman also served as second unit DP on the hit TV series, The Wonder Years.
In 2004, Altman made his mark as Director of Photography on director Robert Altman and writer/cartoonist Garry Trudeau's Tanner on Tanner. A hit at The Sundance Film Festival, the film was a follow-up to their documentary-style Emmy-winning masterpiece, Tanner '88. The new "Tanner", a four-part series following the new adventures of fictional presidential nominee Tanner, was filmed to coincide with the Bush-Kerry elections.
In between his work for television, Altman continues to return to feature filmmaking as a camera operator or cinematographer. Credits include Looking For Trouble for Roger Corman; several projects directed by Robert Altman, Kansas City (1996), The Gingerbread Man (1998), Cookie's Fortune (1999), Dr. T & the Women (2000); as well as, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) directed by Kevin Smith, and The Scorpion King (2002) starring The Rock.
Altman last worked with his legendary father on his final film, the critically acclaimed A Prairie Home Companion.
Recently, Altman has been working on the hit network shows Boston Legal, The O.C. and currently Lost in Hawaii.
Altman is married to Barbara 'Doris' Altman and has one daughter, Cora Altman.