Don Michael Burgess, (born May 28, 1956) is an American cinematographer, best known for his collaborations with director Robert Zemeckis.
He was nominated for the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography for Zemeckis' Forrest Gump (1994). In 2024, he received the American Society of Cinematographers' Lifetime Achievement Award.
Early life and education Burgess comes from a family of builders, and initially wanted to be an architect in his youth.
His introduction to photography came through his father building a dark room for his sister since she was in a high school photography class at the time. When in high school he made ski movies and motorcycle movies.
He attended the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, and cited nature documentarian Mike Hoover as an influence. While attending, he worked as a film loader on William Friedkin's Sorcerer (1977).
Career Burgess spent the first decade of his career shooting various independent and low-budget films, as well as nature documentaries for the National Geographic Channel. In 1987, he shot the full motion video game Night Trap, which was eventually released in 1992.
He was also a second unit cinematographer on Runaway Train (1985), Cherry 2000 (1986), and Back to the Future Part II (1989) and Part III (1990), which brought him into contact with Robert Zemeckis.
In 1994, Burgess was the main cinematographer on Zemeckis' Forrest Gump, earning Oscar and BAFTA Award nominations for his work. He has subsequently worked with Zemeckis on 10 films, including Contact (1997), Cast Away (2000), and The Polar Express (2004). His work with other directors includes Spider-Man (2002), Enchanted (2007), The Book of Eli (2010), Source Code (2011), The Muppets (2011), 42 (2013), The Conjuring 2 (2016), Aquaman (2018), and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023).
On March 3, 2024, Burgess received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Cinematographers.
Filmography Film Year Title Director Notes 1980 Ruckus Max Kleven With Michael A. Jones 1985 Fury to Freedom Erik Jacobson 1986 The Night Stalker Max Kleven1987 Summer Camp Nightmare Bert L. Dragin Death Before Dishonor Terry Leonard 1988 World Gone Wild Lee H. Katzin1989 Under the Boardwalk Fritz Kiersch Blind Fury Phillip Noyce 1992 Mo' Money Peter MacDonald 1993 Josh and S.A.M. Billy Weber1994 Forrest Gump Robert Zemeckis Richie Rich Donald Petrie 1995 Forget Paris Billy Crystal 1996 The Evening Star Robert Harling 1997 ContactRobert Zemeckis2000 What Lies Beneath Cast Away 2002 Spider-Man Sam Raimi2003 Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Jonathan Mostow Radio Michael Tollin2004 13 Going on 30 Gary Winick The Polar Express Robert Zemeckis With Robert Presley Christmas with the Kranks Joe Roth2006 Eight Below Frank Marshall My Super Ex-Girlfriend Ivan Reitman Alesh al-baher Hakim Belabbes With Guillaume Georget 2007 Enchanted Kevin Lima 2008 Fool's Gold Andy Tennant 2009 Aliens in the Attic John Schultz 2010 The Book of Eli Hughes brothers2011 Source Code Duncan Jones Priest Scott Stewart The Muppets James Bobin 2012 Flight Robert Zemeckis 2013 42 Brian Helgeland 2014 Muppets Most Wanted James Bobin2016 The Conjuring 2 James Wan Allied Robert Zemeckis Monster Trucks Chris Wedge2017 Same Kind of Different as Me Michael Carney Wonder Stephen Chbosky2018 The Christmas Chronicles Clay Kaytis Aquaman James Wan 2019 Sextuplets Michael Tiddes2020 The Witches Robert Zemeckis The Christmas Chronicles 2 Chris Columbus 2022 Pinocchio Robert Zemeckis 2023 Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom James Wan2024 A Family Affair Richard LaGravenese Here Robert Zemeckis 2025 The Thursday Murder Club Chris Columbus
Video game Year Title Director Notes 1992 Night Trap James Riley Filmed in 1987
Television TV movies Year Title Director Notes 1979 Superstunt II Max Kleven Documentary film 1988 Too Young the Hero Buzz Kulik 1989 Breaking Point Peter Markle 1990 The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson Larry Peerce 1992 Two-Fisted Tales Robert Zemeckis Segment "Yellow"
TV series Year Title Director Notes 1982 National Geographic Specials Aram BoyajianNicolas Noxon Episode "The Sharks"1988 ABC Afterschool Special Gabrielle Beaumont Episode "Tattle: When to Tell on a Friend" Something Is Out There Larry Shaw Episode "In His Own Image" 1991 Tales from the Crypt Robert Zemeckis Episode "Yellow" 1993 Space Rangers Mikael Salomon Episode "Fort Hope"
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Title Result 1990 American Society of Cinematographers Outstanding Achievement in Cinematographyin Motion Picture Made for Television The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson 1994 Academy Awards Best Cinematography Forrest Gump BAFTA Awards Best Cinematography American Society of Cinematographers Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography 1997 Satellite Awards Best Cinematography Contact 2024 American Society of Cinematographers Lifetime Achievement Award
References
External links
Contender: Cinematographer Don Burgess – Wonder Immersed in Movies: Cinematographer Don Burgess Talks ‘Flight’ Indie Wire What to Stream: Where will ‘The Nun II’ rank in the Conjuring Cinematic Universe? Director Robert Zemeckis and cinematographer Don Burgess, ASC propose an answer to one of humanity's most profound queries. Aquaman‘s DP on the Challenge of People Talking & Fighting Underwater Motion Picture Association Pinocchio Review: A Perfunctory Remake with Only a Scant Touch of Zemeckis Magic ‘Allied’ Review: Brad Pitt & Marion Cotillard Turn Up Movie Star Wattage In Terrific WWII Espionage Thriller Deadline The Christmas Chronicles - 2018 Don Burgess reteams with Zemeckis to adapt The Witches