---
name: "John Toll"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/john-toll"
fi1m_id: "john-toll"
imdb_id: "nm0001799"
tmdb_id: 2483
wikidata_id: "Q585668"
roles: ["Cinematographer"]
born: "15 June 1952"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 21
average_fi1m_score: 68
average_over: 21
updated: "2026-10-07T04:37:59.587190+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."
---

# John Toll

## Identity

John Toll

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/john-toll
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** john-toll
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001799
- **TMDB ID:** 2483
- **Wikidata ID:** Q585668
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Toll, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q585668, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001799/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2483

Cinematographer. Born 15 June 1952 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Cinematographer
- **Born:** 15 June 1952, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- **Active:** 1980–present
- **Frequently works with:** [Alan Ladd Jr.](https://film.one/person/alan-ladd-jr.md), [Cameron Crowe](https://film.one/person/cameron-crowe.md), [Edward Zwick](https://film.one/person/edward-zwick.md), [Grant Hill](https://film.one/person/grant-hill.md), [Jason Lee](https://film.one/person/jason-lee.md), [Marshall Herskovitz](https://film.one/person/marshall-herskovitz.md), [Paula Wagner](https://film.one/person/paula-wagner.md), [Penélope Cruz](https://film.one/person/penelope-cruz.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 2 Oscars (2 won · 1 nominated)
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 66 (7), 1990s 71 (3), 2000s 70 (8), 2010s 68 (2), 2020s 66 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 70 to 63 across 18 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 15 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 13, Action 7, Romance 7, Crime 6, Science Fiction 5, Thriller 4
- **Screen time:** 44 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $3,570m across 20 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Toll, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q585668, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001799/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2483

## Streaming the US now

- **Hulu:** [*Almost Famous*](https://film.one/film/almost-famous.md) (82), [*Gone Baby Gone*](https://film.one/film/gone-baby-gone.md) (79), [*It's Complicated*](https://film.one/film/its-complicated.md) (63)
- **Netflix:** [*Breaking Bad*](https://film.one/tv/breaking-bad.md) (91)
- **Disney+:** [*Iron Man 3*](https://film.one/film/iron-man-3.md) (72)
- **HBO Max:** [*The Last Samurai*](https://film.one/film/the-last-samurai.md) (72)
- **Apple TV:** [*Braveheart*](https://film.one/film/braveheart.md) (68)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Wind*](https://film.one/film/wind.md) (60)
- **Paramount+:** [*Vanilla Sky*](https://film.one/film/vanilla-sky.md) (58)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

John Toll is an American cinematographer. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he began his career as a camera operator on *Norma Rae* (1979) and worked as an assistant to several established cinematographers before his first feature credit as director of photography on *Wind* (1992).

Toll won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography for *Legends of the Fall* (1994) and *Braveheart* (1995), making him one of only four cinematographers to win consecutive Oscars. He was also nominated for *The Thin Red Line* (1998). His other notable credits include *The Last Samurai* (2003), *Cloud Atlas* (2012) and *Iron Man 3* (2013). On television he shot the pilot episode of *Breaking Bad* (2008) and served as chief cinematographer on *Sense8* (2015–2018). He is married to make-up artist Lois Burwell, who won an Oscar for her work on *Braveheart*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (21)

- *The Matrix Resurrections* (2021), Fi1m 66, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-matrix-resurrections.md)
- *Iron Man 3* (2013), Fi1m 72, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/iron-man-3.md)
- *The Adjustment Bureau* (2011), Fi1m 64, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-adjustment-bureau.md)
- *It's Complicated* (2009), Fi1m 63, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/its-complicated.md)
- *Breaking Bad* (2008), Fi1m 91, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/tv/breaking-bad.md)
- *Wanted* (2008), Fi1m 68, Additional Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/wanted.md)
- *Gone Baby Gone* (2007), Fi1m 79, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/gone-baby-gone.md)
- *The Last Samurai* (2003), Fi1m 72, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-samurai.md)
- *Captain Corelli's Mandolin* (2001), Fi1m 48, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/captain-corellis-mandolin.md)
- *Vanilla Sky* (2001), Fi1m 58, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/vanilla-sky.md)
- *Almost Famous* (2000), Fi1m 82, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/almost-famous.md)
- *The Thin Red Line* (1998), Fi1m 84, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-thin-red-line.md)
- *Braveheart* (1995), Fi1m 68, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/braveheart.md)
- *Wind* (1992), Fi1m 60, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/wind.md)
- *Always* (1989), Fi1m 62, Additional Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/always.md)
- *Tequila Sunrise* (1988), Fi1m 62, Second Unit Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/tequila-sunrise.md)
- *Peggy Sue Got Married* (1986), Fi1m 79, Camera Operator — [page](https://film.one/film/peggy-sue-got-married.md)
- *The Falcon and the Snowman* (1985), Fi1m 54, Camera Operator — [page](https://film.one/film/the-falcon-and-the-snowman.md)
- *Scarface* (1983), Fi1m 79, Camera Operator — [page](https://film.one/film/scarface.md)
- *Twilight Zone: The Movie* (1983), Fi1m 63, Camera Operator — [page](https://film.one/film/twilight-zone-the-movie.md)
- *Urban Cowboy* (1980), Fi1m 61, Camera Operator — [page](https://film.one/film/urban-cowboy.md)

## Complete filmography (53)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *80 for Brady* (2023), Director of Photography
- *The Matrix Resurrections* (2021), Director of Photography — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/the-matrix-resurrections.md)
- *Harriet* (2019), Director of Photography
- *Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk* (2016), Director of Photography
- *Sense8* (2015), series, Director of Photography, Executive Producer
- *Jupiter Ascending* (2015), Director of Photography
- *Iron Man 3* (2013), Director of Photography — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/iron-man-3.md)
- *Cloud Atlas* (2012), Director of Photography
- *The 'E.T.' Journals* (2012), Director
- *The Odd Life of Timothy Green* (2012), Director of Photography
- *The Adjustment Bureau* (2011), Director of Photography — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/the-adjustment-bureau.md)
- *It's Complicated* (2009), Director of Photography — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/its-complicated.md)
- *Gimme Shelter* (2008), Director of Photography
- *The Burning Plain* (2008), Additional Director of Photography
- *Tropic Thunder* (2008), Director of Photography
- *Wanted* (2008), Additional Photography — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/wanted.md)
- *Shine a Light* (2008), Director of Photography
- *Breaking Bad* (2008), series, Director of Photography — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/breaking-bad.md)
- *Gone Baby Gone* (2007), Director of Photography — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/gone-baby-gone.md)
- *Rise: Blood Hunter* (2007), Director of Photography
- *Seraphim Falls* (2007), Director of Photography
- *Elizabethtown* (2005), Director of Photography
- *Joni Mitchell: Refuge of the Roads* (2004), Camera Operator
- *The Last Samurai* (2003), Director of Photography — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-samurai.md)
- *Orange County* (2002), Additional Photography
- *Vanilla Sky* (2001), Director of Photography — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/vanilla-sky.md)
- *Captain Corelli's Mandolin* (2001), Director of Photography — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/captain-corellis-mandolin.md)
- *Almost Famous* (2000), Director of Photography — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/almost-famous.md)
- *Simpatico* (1999), Director of Photography
- *The Thin Red Line* (1998), Director of Photography — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-thin-red-line.md)
- *The Rainmaker* (1997), Director of Photography
- *Jack* (1996), Director of Photography
- *Braveheart* (1995), Director of Photography — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/braveheart.md)
- *Legends of the Fall* (1994), Director of Photography
- *Wind* (1992), Director of Photography — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/wind.md)
- *Goodnight Sweet Wife: A Murder in Boston* (1990), Director of Photography
- *Always* (1989), Additional Photography — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/always.md)
- *Blaze* (1989), Second Unit Director of Photography
- *Tequila Sunrise* (1988), Second Unit Director of Photography — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/tequila-sunrise.md)
- *The China Odyssey: Empire of the Sun* (1987), Director of Photography
- *Peggy Sue Got Married* (1986), Camera Operator — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/peggy-sue-got-married.md)
- *The Beach Boys: An American Band* (1985), Director of Photography
- *Sweet Dreams* (1985), Camera Operator
- *The Falcon and the Snowman* (1985), Camera Operator — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/the-falcon-and-the-snowman.md)
- *Scarface* (1983), Camera Operator — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/scarface.md)
- *Twilight Zone: The Movie* (1983), Camera Operator — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/twilight-zone-the-movie.md)
- *Zorro, The Gay Blade* (1981), Camera Operator
- *Bustin' Loose* (1981), Second Unit, Camera Operator
- *Urban Cowboy* (1980), Camera Operator — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/urban-cowboy.md)
- *FM* (1978), Camera Operator
- *Whiffs* (1975), First Assistant Camera
- *The Hoax* (1972), Director of Photography
- *The Young Graduates* (1971), Director of Photography

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 2 won, 1 nominated

- 1999: Best Cinematography (nominated), for *The Thin Red Line*
- 1996: Best Cinematography (won), for *Braveheart*
- 1995: Best Cinematography (won), for *Legends of the Fall*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 1 won

- 1996: Best Cinematography (won), for *Braveheart*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© 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/john-toll