Tom Stern

Biography

Tom Stern (Thomas Evans Stern, born December 16, 1946) is an American cinematographer best known for his long working partnership with Clint Eastwood, which ran from 2002 to 2018. His work has earned him respect within the profession, and his name is tied to several of the most representative American films of the past two decades.

Over his career Stern has shot a wide range of productions, including Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby and Gran Torino, all directed by Eastwood. His approach favours restrained, controlled lighting, with a measured use of light and shadow that supports the dramatic tone of the stories. Beyond that partnership he has worked on projects of very different kinds, from the war dramas Letters from Iwo Jima and Flags of Our Fathers to large-scale productions such as The Hunger Games and American Sniper.

His work on Changeling earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography, confirming his place among the most sought-after cinematographers of his generation. Today his films are often cited as examples of a classical, understated style that serves the story.

Key films

• Million Dollar Baby (2004): cinematography for a boxing drama that became one of his best-known collaborations with Clint Eastwood.
• Mystic River (2003): cinematography for Eastwood's dramatic thriller, an early major result of their partnership.
• Letters from Iwo Jima (2006): cinematography for a war drama told from the Japanese side of the battle.
• Gran Torino (2008): cinematography for the story of a Korean War veteran, directed by and starring Eastwood.