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Frank Watts(1929-1994)

  • Cinematographer
  • Camera and Electrical Department
  • Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Frank William Watts was born to Frank Watts and Jenny Watts in the church St. Mary-le-Bow, in Cheapside, London, England, and grew up in Edgeware.

Watts started his career as a focus puller in 1950, and became an ATV camera operator in 1956. Watt started his cinematography career in 1967, with 4 episodes of The Baron (1966). Watts became involved with the British Society of Cinematographers in 1970, and in 1973, Watts was hired by director Gerry Anderson to shoot 40 episodes of "Space: 1999 (1975)", before being replaced by Brendan J. Stafford.

After "Space: 1999", Watts became the cinematographer for "The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)", "Rising Damp (1980)" (based on the 1970s sitcom), "Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective (1981)", "The Manions of America (1981)", "Educating Rita (1983)", "Rearview Mirror (1984)", D.A.R.Y.L. (1985), "I-Man (1986)" (a TV pilot to an unaired show) "A Hazard of Hearts (1987)", "Internal Affairs (1988)", "Act of Will (1989)", "Shrinks (1991).

Watts recommended Neil Binney to be an associate BSC in 1981, and later became president of the BSC from 1984 to 1986. Watts retired from cinematography in 1989, but was called out of retirement in 1992 to shoot his last project, "Fergie & Andrew: Behind the Palace Doors (1992)". Watts died from a terminal illness on March 5, 1994, at the age of 64.
BornJune 13, 1929
DiedMarch 5, 1994(64)
BornJune 13, 1929
DiedMarch 5, 1994(64)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Add photos, demo reels

Known for

Peter Wyngarde in Department S (1969)
Department S
7.4
TV Series
  • Cinematographer
The Avengers (1961)
The Avengers
8.3
TV Series
  • Cinematographer
Alexandra Bastedo, Stuart Damon, and William Gaunt in The Champions (1968)
The Champions
7.5
TV Series
  • Cinematographer
Barbara Bain and Martin Landau in Space: 1999 (1975)
Space: 1999
7.3
TV Series
  • Cinematographer

Credits

IMDbPro

Cinematographer



  • Fergie & Andrew: Behind the Palace Doors (1992)
    Fergie & Andrew: Behind the Palace Doors
    5.5
    TV Movie
    • Cinematographer
    • 1992
  • The Return of Sam McCloud (1989)
    The Return of Sam McCloud
    6.2
    TV Movie
    • director of photography
    • 1989
  • Elizabeth Hurley in Act of Will (1989)
    Act of Will
    6.0
    TV Mini Series
    • Cinematographer
    • 1989
  • Internal Affairs (1988)
    Internal Affairs
    6.3
    TV Movie
    • Cinematographer
    • 1988
  • Hostage (1988)
    Hostage
    6.5
    TV Movie
    • director of photography
    • 1988
  • A Hazard of Hearts (1987)
    A Hazard of Hearts
    6.7
    TV Movie
    • director of photography
    • 1987
  • CBS Summer Playhouse (1987)
    CBS Summer Playhouse
    6.6
    TV Series
    • Cinematographer
    • 1987
  • Sworn to Silence (1987)
    Sworn to Silence
    5.5
    TV Movie
    • Cinematographer
    • 1987
  • Deadly Deception (1987)
    Deadly Deception
    6.3
    TV Movie
    • director of photography
    • 1987
  • Houston: The Legend of Texas (1986)
    Houston: The Legend of Texas
    6.4
    TV Movie
    • director of photography
    • 1986
  • Nancy McKeon and Ed Lauter in Firefighter (1986)
    Firefighter
    6.9
    TV Movie
    • Cinematographer
    • 1986
  • Walt Disney in The Magical World of Disney (1954)
    The Magical World of Disney
    8.3
    TV Series
    • director of photography
    • 1986
  • Barret Oliver in D.A.R.Y.L. (1985)
    D.A.R.Y.L.
    6.3
    • director of photography
    • 1985
  • Deadly Intentions (1985)
    Deadly Intentions
    7.1
    TV Movie
    • Cinematographer
    • 1985
  • Martin's Day (1985)
    Martin's Day
    6.0
    • Cinematographer
    • 1985

Camera and Electrical Department



  • Catherine Schell in Cosmic Princess (1982)
    Cosmic Princess
    3.4
    TV Movie
    • lighting camera
    • 1982
  • Anthony Hopkins and Lesley-Anne Down in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1982)
    The Hunchback of Notre Dame
    6.3
    TV Movie
    • camera operator: second unit
    • 1982
  • Venom (1981)
    Venom
    5.8
    • photographer: second unit
    • 1981
  • Peter Sellers and Elke Sommer in The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)
    The Prisoner of Zenda
    5.3
    • camera operator: second unit
    • 1979
  • Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, and Catherine Schell in Destination Moonbase-Alpha (1978)
    Destination Moonbase-Alpha
    6.3
    TV Movie
    • lighting camera
    • 1978
  • Annette Andre, Kenneth Cope, and Mike Pratt in My Partner the Ghost (1969)
    My Partner the Ghost
    7.7
    TV Series
    • photographer: second unit
    • 1969
  • Steve Forrest and Sue Lloyd in The Baron (1966)
    The Baron
    7.1
    TV Series
    • camera operator
    • 1966–1967
  • Roger Moore in The Saint (1962)
    The Saint
    7.5
    TV Series
    • camera operator
    • 1964–1966
  • The Man in a Looking Glass
    6.6
    TV Movie
    • camera operator
    • 1965
  • Michael Rennie in The Third Man (1959)
    The Third Man
    7.7
    TV Series
    • camera operator
    • 1962–1965
  • San Ferry Ann (1965)
    San Ferry Ann
    5.5
    • camera operator
    • 1965
  • The Sentimental Agent (1963)
    The Sentimental Agent
    7.0
    TV Series
    • camera operator
    • 1963
  • The Model Murder Case (1963)
    The Model Murder Case
    6.5
    • camera operator
    • 1963
  • Craig Stevens in Man of the World (1962)
    Man of the World
    7.4
    TV Series
    • camera operator
    • 1962
  • Jean Kent and Terence Morgan in Sir Francis Drake (1961)
    Sir Francis Drake
    7.0
    TV Series
    • camera operator
    • 1961–1962

Second Unit or Assistant Director



  • Roger Moore and Olga Georges-Picot in The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970)
    The Man Who Haunted Himself
    6.4
    • second unit
    • 1970

Personal details

  • Born
    • June 13, 1929
    • London, England, UK
  • Died
    • March 5, 1994
    • London, England, UK
  • Spouse
    • Janet1959 - March 5, 1994 (his death)

Did you know

  • Trivia
    Was a member of the British Society of Cinematographers (BSC) from 1970. Served as President from 1984 to 1986.

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