Altman has served as a camera operator and director of photography onan impressive number of award-winning feature films and televisionseries since the maverick days of American filmmaking in the 1970s.

The son of legendary filmmakerRobert Altman and Kathryn Reed,Robert Reed Altman grew up with a passion for film in his blood. Altmanbegan his career serving as assistant camera on the films that wouldcatapult the elder Altman into the pantheon of great Americandirectors:Nashville (1975),Buffalo Bill and the Indians or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976),A Wedding(1978)_, _Popeye (1979)_,HealtH (1980),Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1982),Streamers (1983), andFool for Love (1985). Many of thesefilms, now considered classics, also garnered critical praise,including numerous Academy Awards forNashville (1975).

Following this succession of Hollywood hits, Altman shifted gears andgravitated to television, where he served as camera operator on theacclaimed TV seriesAlien Nation (1989),Tales of the City (1993),Melrose Place (1992), andRobert Altman'sGun (1997). Robert ReedAltman also served as second unit DP on the hit TV seriesThe Wonder Years (1988).

In 2004, Altman made his mark as director of photography on directorRobert Altman's and writer/cartoonistGarry Trudeau'sTanner on Tanner (2004). Ahit at the Sundance Film Festival, the film was a follow-up to Altmanand Trudeau's documentary-style Emmy-winning masterpieceTanner '88 (1988). The new Tanner,a four-part series following the new adventures of frictionalpresidential nominee Tanner, was filmed to coincide with the Bush-Kerryelections.

In between his work for television, Robert Reed Altman continues toreturn to feature filmmaking as a camera operator or cinematographer.Other credits include "Looking for Trouble"(1996)_ forRoger Corman; several projects directed by Robert Altman,Kansas City (1996),The Gingerbread Man (1998),Cookie's Fortune (1999),Dr. T & the Women (2000);as well as the more recent filmsJay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001),directed byKevin Smith, andThe Scorpion King (2002),starringDwayne Johnson, AKA TheRock.