From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Robert L. Surtees, A.S.C. (August 9, 1906 – January 5, 1985) was an American cinematographer who won Academy Awards three times, for the films King Solomon's Mines, The Bad and the Beautiful and the 1959 version of Ben Hur. Robert L. Surtees began working in Hollywood as assistant cameraman to Gregg Toland, A.S.C. in the late 1920s, before moving to Germany for several years, eventually returning to Hollywood. He became one of the most accomplished cinematographers in motion pictures. His credits include Ben-Hur (1959), Mutiny on the Bounty (1962), The Graduate (1967), The Liberation of L.B. Jones (1970), The Last Picture Show (1971), Summer of '42 (1971), The Sting (1973), A Star is Born (1976) and Same Time, Next Year (1978). His son Bruce was also a cinematographer.