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Eric Saarinen

1942 – 2024

American cinematographer

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About Eric Saarinen

Lived 1942 – 2024 (aged 82). Eric Saarinen was an American cinematographer and film producer.

Eric Saarinen (June 26, 1942 – December 21, 2024) was an American cinematographer and film director. His parents were the architect Eero Saarinen and his first wife, the sculptor Lilian Swann Saarinen.

Saarinen has photographed several features, including The Hills Have Eyes directed by Wes Craven and Lost in America directed by Albert Brooks. Saarinen was the cinematographer on Exploratorium, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) at the 47th Academy Awards in 1974. In 1982 he finished the film Symbiosis, which was shown in Walt Disney World for 28 million people. It was filmed in 24 countries on 70 mm film. His parents divorced when Eric was 11 years old. As a student he worked in his father's office, but he did not become as passionate about architecture as his father and his grandfather Eliel Saarinen were.

Saarinen died on December 21, 2024 at the age of 82.

Filmography Cinematographer Gimme Shelter (1970) Jimi Plays Berkeley (1971) Fillmore (1972) F.T.A. (1972) Tidal Wave (1973) Exploratorium (1974) Summer School Teachers (1975) Eat My Dust! (1976) Juan Pérez Jolote (1977) The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams (TV series, 1977) The Hills Have Eyes (1977) You Light Up My Life (1977) Rooster: Spurs of Death! (1978) Starhops (1978) Real Life (1979) A Great Bunch of Girls (1979) Headin' for Broadway (1980) Modern Romance (1981) Boxoffice (1982) Symbiosis (1982) The Golden Seal (1983) Lost in America (1985) Eero Saarinen: The Architect Who Saw the Future (2016)

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Important facts

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Frequently asked questions

Who was Eric Saarinen?

American cinematographer (1942–2024)

When was Eric Saarinen born?

Eric Saarinen was born on 26 June 1942 in Detroit.

When did Eric Saarinen die?

Eric Saarinen died on 21 December 2024.

What was Eric Saarinen's occupation?

Eric Saarinen was a cinematographer and film producer.

What nationality was Eric Saarinen?

Eric Saarinen was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Eric Saarinen

· Wikidata: Q1351601

· DBpedia: Eric Saarinen

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Eric Saarinen. https://biography.guide/eric-saarinen/

MLA: "Eric Saarinen." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/eric-saarinen/.

Chicago: "Eric Saarinen." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/eric-saarinen/.

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