George Nicholas McLean (born May 29, 1941) is an American cinematographer.

Early life

McLean was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of George McLean and Dorothy Jane (née Scott), and raised in the San Fernando Valley. His family was highly involved in the entertainment industry. His uncle was an actor and his step-father, Fred Jackman, Jr. was a cinematographer and the son of the second president of the American Society of Cinematographers.

McLean attended North Hollywood High School, and earned a football scholarship to the University of Southern California.[self-published source]

Career

After graduating, McLean opened a pool hall and a body and fender shop in Van Nuys, California. After this, Jackman introduced McLean to the camera department at Columbia Pictures. He started working as a clapper boy in 1966 for the television series The Iron Horse. In 1969, McLean became a second assistant cameraman at Universal Studios, working on many shows, before providing aerial cinematography for the film Red Sky at Morning.

While working as a cameraman on the film Sharky's Machine, McLean was approached by Burt Reynolds, who directed the film; Reynolds offered him a job as the cinematographer for his film Stroker Ace, which McLean accepted. As another favor, Reynolds offered for McLean to shoot the sitcom Evening Shade. From that point onwards, McLean worked on various film and television projects, as camera operator and director of photography.

In 2002, McLean received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Cinematography in a Multicamera Series for his work on Friends.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleDirectorNotes
1979Cheech & Chong's Next MovieTommy ChongWith King Baggot
1982Stroker AceHal NeedhamAlso made an uncredited cameo as "Walter"
1983Staying AliveSylvester Stallone
Cannonball Run IIHal Needham
1984City HeatRichard Benjamin
1985StickBurt Reynolds
Twice in a LifetimeBud Yorkin
1985The GooniesRichard DonnerAlso made a cameo as "Mouth's Father"
1986Short CircuitJohn Badham
1987SpaceballsMel Brooks
1988Mac and MeStewart Raffill
1995The MaddeningDanny Huston
1999The Last ProducerBurt Reynolds

Television

YearTitleDirectorNotes
1988-1989CBS Summer PlayhouseAaron Lipstadt Steve MinerSegments "The Pretenders" and "B-Men"
B.L. Stryker11 episodes; Also directed episode "High Rise"
1990ElvisSteve MinerEpisode "Moody's Blues"
1990-1993Evening ShadeAll 99 episodes
1992Hearts AfireHarry ThomasonEpisode "Bees Can Sting You, Watch Out" (Part 1 & 2)
1995-1996The Home CourtAll 20 episodes
1995-1999Cybill74 episodes
1998-1999Veronica's Closet42 episodes
2000-2004Friends99 episodes
2000Cursed7 episodes
2002-2003Life with BonnieBonnie Hunt John Bowab21 episodes
2004-2005Listen Up5 episodes
2004Life on a StickAndy Ackerman Richard Owen RansomEpisode "Pilot"
2005Hot PropertiesJeff Melman5 episodes
2004-2006Joey35 episodes
2006'Til DeathTed WassEpisode "Sex for Furniture"

TV movies

YearTitleDirector
1991Maverick SquareSteve Miner
1993Harlan & MerleenBurt Reynolds
The Man from Left Field
  • American Society of Cinematographers (1987). . ASC Holding Corporation.
  • Pauline Kael (2 August 2011). . Henry Holt and Company. pp. 298–. ISBN 978-1-250-03357-4.
  • . Hall. 1992. ISBN 9780783813189.
  • Michael L. Stephens (1996). . McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-0046-1.

External links