In Memoriam: Frank Beascoechea, ASC (1934-2016)

Longtime ASC member Frank Palmer Beascoechea passed away recently at the age of 81.

Beascoechea was born on Oct. 15, 1934 in San Francisco, Calif. He entered the motion-picture industry in 1959 and was elevated to cinematographer in 1975, while working at Universal Studios. Harry Wolf, ASC was instrumental in helping Beascoechea become a director of photography after the latter had worked as his camera operator. Wolf and fellow Society member Richard Kelley proposed Beascoechea for membership in the ASC, and Beascoechea was officially invited to join following the Board of Governors meeting on Jan. 11, 1982.

Beascoechea’s credits as a cinematographer include the features Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and No Holds Barred; the telefilms Night Drive, A Double Life, Angel Dusted and Pigs vs. Freaks; and episodes of the series Switch, Sword of Justice, B.J. and the Bear, The Twilight Zone (1985) and Mike Hammer.