James Howard Sweeney, who worked as a cinematographer, gaffer, best boy, and props man in the film industry in California for many years, died in his sleep on June 13 at home in Brooklyn. The cause was likely cardiac arrhythmia, his family said. He was 66.
Mr. Sweeney graduated from East Hampton High School in 1974. He was a talented still photographer, even as a high school student, and had several of his pictures published in The East Hampton Star. He went on to earn his B.A. from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and an M.F.A. from the University of Southern California in 1990. He remained in California after that, but returned to Brooklyn about six years ago.
"He was an elegant amateur photographer and that was the main thing he did when he wasn't working," said his older brother William Sweeney of Brooklyn.
"He was a remarkably sweet and gentle man," William Sweeney said.
Mr. Sweeney was born on April 5, 1956, to the former Viola Chapman James and Dr. William J. Sweeney III at New York Cornell Hospital, where his father worked. He grew up in New York City and Sagaponack, in a house that had been in the family since the 1940s. His mother, Viola J. (Wings) White, still divides her time between Brooklyn and Sagaponack and is a longtime member of the East Hampton Ladies Village Improvement Society. His father died in 1997.
He was married and divorced twice, first to Ebba Gendron in 1983, and then to Natalie Milin. In addition to his mother and his brother William, he is survived by another older brother, David Sweeney of New Jersey.
Mr. Sweeney was cremated.
