Peter Menzies Jr.

Peter Gary Menzies Jr., ASC ACS is an Australian cinematographer, best known for his work on blockbuster action films.

Life and career

Menzies was born in Sydney. He was introduced to the film industry by his father, director and cinematographer Peter Menzies Sr. He started as a camera loader and worked his way through the ranks in commercials and features as a camera assistant and later as an operator, working regularly under DPs David Gribble and Russell Boyd. He made his debut as cinematographer on White Sands, a crime film directed by Roger Donaldson and starring Willem Dafoe.

Since then, Menzies has worked mostly on action films like Die Hard with a Vengeance, Hard Rain and Shooter.

Menzies became a member of the Australian Cinematographers Society in 1996, and the American Society of Cinematographers in 2024. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and is the Chairman of the Board for the Grand Jury of the Cordillera International Film Festival in Reno/Tahoe Nevada.