Arthur R. Botham, ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ cinematographer, dies at 88

Arthur “Buddy” Botham, who served as cinematographer on the dukes of hazardd and was in charge of the shooting of the second unit in films such as that of Blake Edwards skin deep and John Carpenter town of the damned (1995), is dead. He was 88 years old.

Botham died June 26 at his Woodland Hills home, his daughter Julia Bergeron announced.

Botham also worked on several series produced by Stephen J. Cannell, from the a-team, Hardcastle and McCormick and Hunter to Turby waters, Stingray, sonny spoon and Stoneand was a generator operator at James Cameron’s Titanic (1997) and by Bill Lawrence scrubs.

Born in Chicago on March 19, 1935, Arthur Ronald Botham joined the Chicago Stage Guild at age 21 and starred in uncle vania and other productions. After a stint in the US Marine Corps as a helicopter repairman, he returned to Chicago, resumed acting, and became a cinematographer.

As the in-house cinematographer at Encyclopedia Britannica, he has shot dozens of educational films and traveled the world. He braved an ice storm while standing on a glacier, dodged hammerhead sharks while underwater near the Galapagos Islands and fired shots from the open door of a helicopter.

In addition to town of the damned (nineteen ninety five), skin deep (1989) and another Edwards film, Sunset (1988), Botham worked in films like Steven Spielberg 1941 (1979) by Roger Spottiswoode Arrest! Or my mom will shoot (1992) and Tim Hunter The manufacturer (1997).

A member of the Television Academy, the DGA, SAG, IBEW Local 40, and the International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600), he also shot music videos, including one for Frank Sinatra and Quincy Jones, and commercials with Joe Namath and the Harlem Globetrotters.

He also continued acting, appearing in scrubs and in the movies winterhawk (1975) and killer’s delight (1978), often using his stage name, Arthur St. Joseph.

Survivors include their children, Kathleen, Julia, Eileen, Arthur, and Kevin; six grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. His wife of almost 63 years, Theresa, died in June 2022.

The funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Aug. 7 at St. Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation.