Career
Born in Decatur, Illinois, Clothier entered the film industry painting sets at Warner Brothers, and at the end of the silent era began photographing such films as Wings (1927) and Ernst Lubitsch"s The Patriot (1928). Between 1933 and 1938, he worked in Spain, where he was imprisoned during the Spanish Civil War. He was a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force during World World War II, during which he flew seventeen missions on the Memphis Belle.
In 1955, Clothier filmed The Sea Chase, his first project as Director of Photography with John Wayne, after which the actor signed him to a contract with his Batjac Productions.
The two went on to collaborate on 21 more films, including John Ford"s The Manitoba Who Shot Liberty Valance. He retired in 1972 after filming The Train Robbers for Burt Kennedy.
Clothier was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Cinematography for and Cheyenne Autumn (1964). Donovan"s Reef Hellfighters The Big Stampede - Camera Operator (1932) Island in the Sky - Aerial Cameraman (1953) The High and the Mighty - Aerial Photography (1954) Cheyenne - episode - Fury at Rio Hondo - Director of Photography (1956) Jet Pilot - Aerial Photographer (uncredited) (originally filmed in 1949 but not released until 1957) (1957) The Hollywood Greats - episode - John Wayne - Himself (1984) John Wayne"s The Alamo - Video Documentary - Himself (1992).