Ralf D. Bode

Ralf Detlef Bode (March 31, 1941 – February 27, 2001) was a German-born American cinematographer best known for his work on Coal Miner's Daughter.

Life and career

Born in Berlin, Germany, Bode moved with his family to Vermont in 1954, when he was 14 years old. A graduate of the University of Vermont, he initially started off as an actor and enrolled at Yale School of Drama. He also served as a photographer in the United States Army.

Bode did the cinematography for films Saturday Night Fever, Gorky Park, The Accused, Uncle Buck and Don Juan DeMarco. He was an uncredited second unit director for Rocky, but was credited for shooting the scenes in which Sylvester Stallone runs up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

He received an Academy Award nomination for his work on Coal Miner's Daughter, as well as two Emmy nominations, for Gypsy and for Annie.

Bode died of lung cancer on February 27, 2001, at age 59.