---
name: "James Bagdonas"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/james-bagdonas"
roles: ["Cinematographer","Director"]
born: "1 January 1951"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 76
updated: "2026-09-17T01:05:44.576624+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# James Bagdonas

Cinematographer and director. Born 1 January 1951 in USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Cinematographer, Director
- **Born:** 1 January 1951, USA
- **Active:** 2004–2009
- **Also known as:** James R. Bagdonas, Джеймс Р. Бэгдонэс, Jim Bagdonas

## Biography

James R. Bagdonas is an American cinematographer and director. Born on 13 May 1951, he began working in film and television in the 1970s and 1980s, with early credits including assistant camera on *Nice Dreams* (1981) and director of photography on series such as *Hunter* (1984).

Bagdonas served as director of photography on *Boston Legal* (2004–2008) for 78 episodes and directed six episodes of the series. He held the same role on *Modern Family* (2009–2020) across 228 episodes and directed 21 episodes. Other notable credits include *Chicago Hope* (1994), *The Guardian* (2002), *Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23* (2012) and features such as *National Lampoon's Van Wilder* (2002) and *Slackers* (2002). He is a member of the American Society of Cinematographers and has received four Primetime Emmy nominations.

*Sources: imdb.com, independentartistgroup.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *Modern Family* (2009), Fi1m 77, Cinematography, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/modern-family.md)
- *Boston Legal* (2004), Fi1m 76, Cinematography, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/boston-legal.md)

## Also known for

- *National Lampoon's Van Wilder* (2002), Director of Photography
- *Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman* (1993), Director
- *Cruel Intentions 2* (2000), Director of Photography
- *Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23* (2012), Director of Photography
- *Slackers* (2002), Director of Photography
- *Matlock* (2024), Director of Photography
- *Nice Dreams* (1981), Assistant Camera
- *Hunter* (1984), Director of Photography

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/james-bagdonas