Biography
Richard M. Rawlings Jr. was an American cinematographer who worked primarily in television. Born in Hollywood, California, on 9 October 1943, he was the son of cinematographer Richard L. Rawlings. He studied film at the University of Southern California and began his career as a messenger at Warner Bros. before moving into the camera department, where he assisted his father on series including Gilligan's Island.
Rawlings Jr. became a director of photography on Charlie's Angels in 1978, sharing duties with his father for part of the third season before shooting the final two seasons. His credits include Matt Houston (1982–85), L.A. Law (1985–86), Boston Public (2000–04), Gilmore Girls (2004–05), Desperate Housewives (2005–07) and a 2008 episode of Boston Legal. He also directed episodes of Paradise and Reasonable Doubts.
He received four Primetime Emmy nominations for cinematography and won an ASC Award for Paradise. In 2014 he was honoured with the ASC Television Career Achievement Award. Rawlings Jr. died on 30 June 2026 in Flagstaff, Arizona.
