Trivia

Upon his death, he was cremated and his ashes were scattered over Point Lobos in Monterey, California.

Father of Bruce Surtees

Entered the film industry as camera assistant to Joseph Ruttenberg and Gregg Toland, etc.

Member of A.S.C. (American Society of Cinematographers).

Father of Bruce Surtees; Tom Surtees; and Nancy Surtees; Grandfather of Suzanne Surtees. Former father-in-law of Judy Rucker and Carol Buby.

Cinematographer for two Oscar Best Picture winners Ben-Hur (1959) and El golpe (1973), and seven other nominees: Las minas del rey Salomón (1950), Quo Vadis (1951), Motín a bordo (1962), El fabuloso Doctor Doolittle (1967), El graduado (1967), La Última Película (1971) and Momento de decisión (1977).

The very high quality 35mm Technicolor footage shot in Africa by Surtees and his crew for "King Solomon's Mines" (1950) became a source of stock shots used in numerous future productions without credit to Surtees.