Nick McLean

Nick McLean, Sr., (born 29 May 1941), full name George Nicholas McLean, is an American cinematographer, best known for his work on the television shows Friends, Joey, Cybill, and Evening Shade.

Early life and education
McLean was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of George McLean and Dorothy Jane (née Scott), and raised in the San Fernando Valley. He attended North Hollywood High School. His family was highly involved in the entertainment industry. His uncle was an actor and his step-father, Fred Jackman, Jr., son of the second president of the ASC, was a cinematographer. McLean attended USC on a football scholarship. He then opened a pool hall and a body and fender shop in Van Nuys, California.

Career
McLean's step-father introduced him to the camera department at Columbia Pictures. McLean got his first job in 1966 as a clapper boy on a television series called The Iron Horse. He worked ten days during the first year and one day the next year.

In 1969 McLean became a second assistant cameraman at Universal Studios, working on many shows. The first feature film that he worked on was Red Sky at Morning with Vilmos Zsigmond, who promoted McLean to operator. He did all the aerials on his films, and also on some commercials even after he became a cinematographer. McLean's first movie as a cinematographer was Stroker Ace. Burt Reynolds then asked McLean to shoot Evening Shade, which became a highly popular sitcom.

McLean continued to work on various film and television projects, as camera operator, cinematographer and director of photography.

In 2002 McLean received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Cinematography in a Multicamera Series for his work on Friends.

Family
McLean has an older brother, Steve McLean, who is a camera operator; a sister, Linda, who has done various acting work; a son, Nicholas S. McLean, who is a camera assistant; and a daughter, Shay McLean, who is a singer, songwriter, and actress. His wife, Karen, is an animal wrangler for films, television shows and commercials. He also has one granddaughter and two grandsons.

Film

 * 1979: Cheech & Chong's Next Movie
 * 1982: Stroker Ace
 * 1983: Staying Alive
 * 1983: Cannonball Run II
 * 1984: Stick (released 1985)
 * 1984: City Heat
 * 1984: Twice in a Lifetime
 * 1985: Gung Ho/Working Class Man
 * 1985: The Goonies
 * 1986: Cobra
 * 1986: Short Circuit
 * 1986: Heat (second unit)
 * 1987: Spaceballs
 * 1988: Mac and Me
 * 1994: My Father, the Hero (replaced Francis Veber)
 * 1994: The Maddening
 * 1999: The Last Producer/The Final Hit

Television

 * 1988: The Pretenders
 * 1989: B-Men
 * 1988-89: B.L. Stryker
 * 1990-93: Evening Shade
 * 1991: Maverick Square
 * 1992: Hearts Afire
 * 1993: The Man from Left Field
 * 1993: Harlan & Merleen
 * 1994-97: Cybill
 * 1995: The Home Court
 * 1998-99: Veronica's Closet
 * 1999: Friends
 * 2000-03: Friends
 * 2002: Life with Bonnie
 * 2004: Listen Up
 * 2004: Life on a Stick
 * 2005: Hot Properties
 * 2005: Joey
 * 2006: 'til Death

Films as camera assistant/operator

 * 1966: The Iron Horse
 * 1970: Red Sky at Morning
 * 1970: The Touch of Satan/Curse of Melissa/Night of the Demon
 * 1972: Domo Arigato/Thank You Very Much
 * 1973: The Sugerland Express
 * 1973: Cinderella Liberty
 * 1973: Larry
 * 1974: Funny Lady
 * 1975: Obsession
 * 1975: Sweet Revenge/Dandy, the All American Girl
 * 1975: Marathon Man
 * 1976: Exorcist II: The Heretic
 * 1976: Close Encounters of the Third Kind
 * 1976: Looking for Mr. Goodbar
 * 1977: The Deer Hunter
 * 1977: Heaven Can Wait
 * 1978: The Rose
 * 1979: Being There/Chance
 * 1979: Cheech and Chong's Next Movie/High Encounters (of the Ultimate Kind)
 * 1980: Honky Tonk Freeway
 * 1980: Rich and Famous
 * 1981: Sharky's Machine
 * 1981: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
 * 1982: Kiss Me Goodbye

Television as director

 * 1989: B.L. Stryker

Miscellaneous

 * 1991: Burt Reynolds' Conversations with...