Robert Elswit
- Known For
- Camera
- Born
- April 22, 1950 in California, USA
- Active Years
- 1953–2026 (74 Years)
- Total Credits
- 96 credits in database
Biography
Subject: Robert Elswit (Cinematographer).
Task: Write a 90-130 word factual identity profile.
Constraints: Use ONLY provided facts. No invention. No markdown/asterisks/headings/bullets. Plain text only. Neutral, encyclopedic prose.
Word Count Target: 90-130 words.
Name: Robert Christopher Elswit, ASC.
Profession: American cinematographer.
Birth Date: April 22, 1950.
Birth Place: California, USA.
Collaborations:
Paul Thomas Anderson (1996 to 2014).
Tony and Dan Gilroy (on all six films they either directed).
Awards: Academy Award for Best Cinematography for There Will Be Blood.
Notable Works: Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), There Will Be Blood (2007), Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011), Inherent Vice (2014), and Nightcrawler (2014).
Known Credits: 95.
Robert Christopher Elswit, ASC, is an American cinematographer born on April 22, 1950, in California, USA. He has 95 known credits. Elswit collaborated with Paul Thomas Anderson from 1996 to 2014 and won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for There Will Be Blood. He has also worked with directors and screenwriters Tony and Dan Gilroy on all six films that either brother directed. His notable works include Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), There Will Be Blood (2007), Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011), Inherent Vice (2014), and Nightcrawler (2014).
"Robert Christopher Elswit, ASC, is an American cinematographer born on April 22, 1950, in California, USA. He has 95 known credits. Elsw
Career overview
Role: Meticulous television and film archivist.
Task: Write a 180-260 word career overview of Robert Elswit (Camera).
Constraint 1: Use ONLY verifiable facts from the provided SYNOPSIS and SOURCES.
Constraint 2: No invented titles, names, dates, awards, etc.
Constraint 3: Original, neutral, encyclopedic prose in plain text.
Constraint 4: No markdown, no asterisks, no headings, no bullet points.
Constraint 5: 180-260 words.
Constraint 6: 2-3 short paragraphs.
Name: Robert Christopher Elswit, ASC.
Profession: American cinematographer.
Birth Date: April 22, 1950.
Birth Place: California, USA.
Collaborations:
Paul Thomas Anderson: 1996 to 2014.
Tony and Dan Gilroy (directors and screenwriters): All six films they either directed.
Awards: Academy Award for Best Cinematography for There Will Be Blood.
Known For/Credits:
Boogie Nights (1997)
Magnolia (1999)
Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)
Inherent Vice (2014)
Nightcrawler (2014)
Known Credits count: 95.
Paragraph 1: Identity and early/notable work.
Robert Christopher Elswit, ASC, is an American cinematographer born on April 22, 1950, in California, USA. He is recognized for his work in camera and has 95 known credits. His notable filmography includes Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), There Will Be Blood (2007), Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011), Inherent Vice (2014), and Nightcrawler (2014).
Paragraph 2: Collaborations and Awards.
Elswit has maintained a long-term professional relationship with director Paul Thomas Anderson, collaborating with him from 1996 to 2014. During this period, Elswit won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on There Will Be Blood. Additionally, he has collaborated with directors and screenwriters Tony and Dan Gilroy on all six films that either brother directed.
Drafting text:
Robert Christopher Elswit, ASC, is an American cinematographer born on April 22, 1950, in California, USA. With 95 known credits, his work is featured in several notable films, including Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), and There Will Be Blood (2007). His credits also include Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011), Inherent Vice (2014), and Nightcrawler (2014).
Throughout his career, Elswit has established significant professional partnerships. He collaborated with director Paul Thomas Anderson from 1996 to 2014, a period during which he won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on There Will Be Blood. Furthermore, Elswit has worked with directors and screenwriters Tony and Dan Gilroy on all six films that either brother directed.
Word Count Check:
"Robert Christopher Elswit, ASC, is an American cinematographer born on April 22, 1950, in California, USA. With 95 known credits, his work is featured in several notable films,
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
96 titles- The Punisher: One Last Kill (2026) Director of Photography
- Animals (2026) Director of Photography
- Ella McCay (2025) Director of Photography
- RIPLEY (2024) Director of Photography
- Bob Marley: One Love (2024) Director of Photography
- King Richard (2021) Director of Photography
- The King of Staten Island (2020) Director of Photography
- Velvet Buzzsaw (2019) Director of Photography
- Skyscraper (2018) Director of Photography
- Write When You Get Work (2018) Director of Photography
- Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017) Director of Photography
- Suburbicon (2017) Director of Photography
- Remembering Reno: Reflections on the Making of Desert Hearts (2017) as Self
- The Night Of (2016) Director of Photography
- Gold (2016) Director of Photography
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter (2015) as Self
- Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015) Director of Photography
- The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015) Thanks
- Nightcrawler (2014) Director of Photography
- Inherent Vice (2014) Director of Photography
- The Bourne Legacy (2012) Director of Photography
- Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) Director of Photography
- The Town (2010) Director of Photography
- Salt (2010) Director of Photography
- Duplicity (2009) Director of Photography
- The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009) Director of Photography
- The Burning Plain (2008) Director of Photography
- Shine a Light (2008) Camera Operator
- Shine a Light (2008) Director of Photography
- Redbelt (2008) Director of Photography
- There Will Be Blood (2007) Director of Photography
- Michael Clayton (2007) Director of Photography
- American Dreamz (2006) Director of Photography
- The Informer: Out of the Fog (2006) as Self
- Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005) Director of Photography
- Syriana (2005) Director of Photography
- Runaway Jury (2003) Director of Photography
- Gigli (2003) Director of Photography
- Behind the Red Door (2003) Director of Photography
- Punch-Drunk Love (2002) Director of Photography
- Impostor (2001) Director of Photography
- Heist (2001) Director of Photography
- Bounce (2000) Director of Photography
- That Moment: Magnolia Diary (2000) as Self
- Magnolia (1999) Director of Photography
- 8MM (1999) Director of Photography
- Richard Lester! (1998) Director of Photography
- Boogie Nights (1997) Director of Photography
- Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) Director of Photography
- Prince Street (1997) Director of Photography
- Hard Eight (1997) Director of Photography
- The Pallbearer (1996) Director of Photography
- Boys (1996) Director of Photography
- The River Wild (1994) Director of Photography
- A Dangerous Woman (1993) Director of Photography
- The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992) Director of Photography
- Human Target (1992) Director of Photography
- Waterland (1992) Director of Photography
- A Murderous Affair: The Carolyn Warmus Story (1992) Director of Photography
- Prison Stories: Women on the Inside (1991) Director of Photography
- The Summer My Father Grew Up (1991) Director of Photography
- Paris Trout (1991) Director of Photography
- Bad Influence (1990) Director of Photography
- A Killing in a Small Town (1990) Director of Photography
- Opposites Attract (1990) Director of Photography
- How I Got Into College (1989) Director of Photography
- Dream Street (1989) Director of Photography
- Heart of Dixie (1989) Director of Photography
- Margaret Bourke-White (1989) Director of Photography
- Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988) Director of Photography
- Cadillac Dreams (1988) Director of Photography
- Long Gone (1987) Director of Photography
- Amazing Grace and Chuck (1987) Director of Photography
- Into the Homeland (1987) Director of Photography
- A Different Affair (1987) Director of Photography
- Trick or Treat (1986) Director of Photography
- The Children of Times Square (1986) Director of Photography
- The Sure Thing (1985) Director of Photography
- Desert Hearts (1985) Director of Photography
- Moving Violations (1985) Director of Photography
- CBS Schoolbreak Special (1984) Director of Photography
- Tiger Town (1984) Director of Photography
- Return of the Jedi (1983) Visual Effects Camera
- Summerspell (1983) Director of Photography
- E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) Visual Effects Camera
- All Summer in a Day (1982) Director of Photography
- Waltz Across Texas (1982) Director of Photography
- The End of August (1981) Director of Photography
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Visual Effects Lineup
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) Visual Effects Camera
- CBS Library (1979) Director of Photography
- Genesis: Four Billion Years in the Making (1978) Assistant Camera
- Fraternity Row (1977) Camera Operator
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- The Boys from Brazil Director of Photography
- Faster, Cheaper, Better Director of Photography
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Robert Elswit best known for?
Robert Elswit is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Punisher: One Last Kill (2026), Animals (2026), Ella McCay (2025), RIPLEY (2024).
When and where was Robert Elswit born?
Robert Elswit was born on April 22, 1950 in California, USA.
How many credits does Robert Elswit have?
Robert Elswit has accumulated over 96 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1953 to 2026.
What is Robert Elswit's background in cinema and television?
Subject: Robert Elswit (Cinematographer). Task: Write a 90-130 word factual identity profile. Constraints: Use ONLY provided facts. No invention. No markdown/asterisks/headings/bullets. Plain text only. Neutral, encyclopedic prose. Word Count Target: 90-130 words. Name: Robert Christopher Elswit, ASC. Profession: Ameri...
Robert Elswit by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Oscars (1953) as Self — aged about 3
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter (2015) as Self — aged about 65
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