Ken Kelsch
Kenneth Arthur Kelsch (July 8, 1947 – December 11, 2023) was an American cinematographer, teacher, and Vietnam veteran. He was best known for his guerilla filmmaking style and his career-spanning partnership with cult genre director Abel Ferrara, with whom he made more than 15 films.
Ken Kelsch | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kennth Arthur Kelsch July 8, 1947 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | December 11, 2023 (aged 76) Hackettstown, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Montclair State College New York University |
| Occupation | Cinematographer |
| Years active | 1972–2019 |
| Organization | American Society of Cinematographers |
| Known for | Bad Lieutenant, Big Night, The Driller Killer, The Funeral |
| Children | 3 |
| Military career | |
| Service/ | United States Army |
| Unit | United States Army Special Forces |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
His films include The Driller Killer (1979), Bad Lieutenant (1992), Dangerous Game (1993), Big Night (1996) and a Rear Window (1998) remake starring a paralyzed Christopher Reeve. On television, he was the director of photography on two seasons of Medium, several TV movies and, with Ferrara, one segment of the anthology series Subway Stories (1997).
In 1996, he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography for his work on The Funeral (1996).