---
name: "Peter Smokler"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/peter-smokler"
fi1m_id: "peter-smokler"
imdb_id: "nm0810545"
tmdb_id: 67864
roles: ["Cinematographer"]
born: "12 December 1946"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 83
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-09-24T04:37:21.315202+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."
---

# Peter Smokler

## Identity

Peter Smokler

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/peter-smokler
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** peter-smokler
- **IMDb ID:** nm0810545
- **TMDB ID:** 67864
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0810545/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/67864

Cinematographer. Born 12 December 1946 in Detroit, Michigan, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Cinematographer
- **Born:** 12 December 1946, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- **Active:** 1984–2009
- **Frequently works with:** [Randall Einhorn](https://film.one/person/randall-einhorn.md), [Alex Hardcastle](https://film.one/person/alex-hardcastle.md), [Bryan Gordon](https://film.one/person/bryan-gordon.md), [Charles McDougall](https://film.one/person/charles-mcdougall.md), [Craig Zisk](https://film.one/person/craig-zisk.md), [Danny Leiner](https://film.one/person/danny-leiner.md), [David Rogers](https://film.one/person/david-rogers.md), [Dean Holland](https://film.one/person/dean-holland.md)
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 91 (1), 1990s 82 (1), 2000s 80 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 84 to 77 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Comedy 4, Drama 1, Music 1
- **Screen time:** 1 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $6m across 1 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0810545/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/67864

## Streaming the US now

- **Peacock:** [*Parks and Recreation*](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md) (83), [*The Office*](https://film.one/tv/the-office-2005.md) (77)

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

## Biography

Peter Smokler is an American cinematographer. Born in Detroit, Michigan, on 12 December 1946, he has worked extensively in film and television.

He served as director of photography on the pilot of the US series *The Office* (2005) and contributed to episodes of *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia* (2005–2013) and *Parks and Recreation* (2009). His film credits include *This Is Spinal Tap* (1984). Other notable television work encompasses *The Larry Sanders Show* (1992–1998), *Sports Night* (1998–2000) and *George Lopez* (2002–2007).

Smokler won a Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding cinematography for a multi-camera series for *Sports Night* in 2000.

*Sources: imdb.com, televisionacademy.com, shotonwhat.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Parks and Recreation* (2009), Fi1m 83, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md)
- *The Office* (2005), Fi1m 77, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-office-2005.md)
- *Sports Night* (1998), Fi1m 82, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/tv/sports-night.md)
- *This Is Spinal Tap* (1984), Fi1m 91, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/this-is-spinal-tap.md)

## Complete filmography (38)

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

- *Broke* (2020), series, Director of Photography
- *Mr. Iglesias* (2019), series, Director of Photography
- *Disjointed* (2017), series, Director of Photography
- *Kevin Can Wait* (2016), series, Director of Photography
- *Anger Management* (2012), series, Director of Photography
- *A Very Sunny Christmas* (2009), Director of Photography
- *Parks and Recreation* (2009), series, Director of Photography — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md)
- *Tinseltown* (2007), Director of Photography
- *Freddie* (2005), series, Director of Photography
- *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia* (2005), series, Director of Photography
- *The Office* (2005), series, Director of Photography — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-office-2005.md)
- *Jimi Plays Berkeley* (2003), Camera Operator
- *Indiana Jones: Making the Trilogy* (2003), Camera Operator
- *George Lopez* (2002), series, Director of Photography
- *The Last Real Cowboys* (2000), Director of Photography
- *Sports Night* (1998), series, Director of Photography — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/sports-night.md)
- *Problem Child 3* (1995), Director of Photography
- *Bethie's Really Silly Clubhouse* (1993), Director of Photography
- *Problem Child 2* (1991), Director of Photography
- *Camp Cucamonga* (1990), Director of Photography
- *Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation* (1989), Director of Photography
- *Tour of Duty* (1987), series, Director of Photography
- *Scorned and Swindled* (1984), Director of Photography
- *This Is Spinal Tap* (1984), Director of Photography — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/this-is-spinal-tap.md)
- *Hooker* (1983), Cinematography
- *The Orson Welles Story* (1982), Cinematography
- *The Killing of America* (1981), Director of Photography
- *Alligator* (1980), Second Unit Director of Photography
- *Today Is For The Championship* (1980), Director of Photography
- *Eat My Dust* (1976), Camera Operator
- *Poor Pretty Eddie* (1975), Assistant Camera
- *Dirty O'Neil* (1974), Assistant Camera
- *The Wrestler* (1974), Assistant Camera
- *Your Three Minutes Are Up* (1973), Second Assistant Camera
- *An American Family* (1973), series, Camera Operator
- *Celebration at Big Sur* (1971), Camera Operator
- *Punishment Park* (1971), Assistant Camera, Additional Photography
- *Chicago* (1968), Camera Operator

---
© 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/peter-smokler