Geraldine Brianne Murphy (April 1, 1933 – August 20, 2003) was a cinematographer and, the first female director of photography on a major studio film.

Biography

Murphy was educated in English and American schools before she set her sights on an acting career and attended the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City and Pembroke College. In order to become "more American", she worked as a trick rider with a rodeo for a season. In 1954, she "crashed" the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Madison Square Garden on opening night and performed as a clown for the entire evening.

The resulting publicity helped Murphy land a job as a still photographer with the traveling circus and eventually led to her to Hollywood. She soon began working with low-budget filmmakers Jerry Warren and Ralph Brooke, both of whom she married.

In 1980, she was the first female director of photography on a major studio picture, Fatso. In 1982, Murphy won an Academy Award for Scientific and Engineering Achievement. She was also nominated for four Emmys for cinematography, winning for outstanding cinematography for the series Highway to Heaven in 1985.