Phil Hymes

phil-hymes-ap-450x600.jpg

Phil Hymes

Phil Hymes

Photo credit: 
AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler

Phil Hymes

Date of Passing: July 29, 2019
Birthplace: Long Island, New York
Obituary: Hollywood Reporter

Phil Hymes was an American lighting director.

Hymes, who began his career at NBC in 1951, worked on more than 500 episodes of Saturday Night Live until his most recent episode in January 2018.

He was nominated for 13 Emmy Awards over the course of his career, winning twice 53 years apart, the first time for Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Magnificent Yankee in 1965, and in September 2018 for an episode of SNL hosted by Kevin Hart.

Early in his career, Hymes worked on The Bell Telephone Hour, Robert Montgomery Presents, Sing Along with Mitch, Your Hit Parade and The Steve Allen Show.

Phil Hymes was an American lighting director.

Hymes, who began his career at NBC in 1951, worked on more than 500 episodes of Saturday Night Live until his most recent episode in January 2018.

He was nominated for 13 Emmy Awards over the course of his career, winning twice 53 years apart, the first time for Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Magnificent Yankee in 1965, and in September 2018 for an episode of SNL hosted by Kevin Hart.

Early in his career, Hymes worked on The Bell Telephone Hour, Robert Montgomery Presents, Sing Along with Mitch, Your Hit Parade and The Steve Allen Show.

Hymes served as the lighting designer for the Richard Nixon/John F. Kennedy presidential debate in 1960. He also was in charge of lighting for both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions over the years.

Other shows Hymes worked on include The Kids in The Hall, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and 30 Rock.

Hymes died July 29, 2019, in New York City, New York. He was 96.

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Awards & Nominations

13 Nominations | 2 Emmys
Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Variety Series - 2018
  • Winner
  • Phil Hymes, Lighting Designer
  • Saturday Night Live
  • "Host: Kevin Hart"
  • NBC
  • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Series - 2017
  • Nominee
  • Phil Hymes, Lighting Designer
  • Saturday Night Live
  • "Host: Jimmy Fallon"
  • NBC
  • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Outstanding Lighting Design / Lighting Direction For A Variety Series - 2016
  • Nominee
  • Phil Hymes, Lighting Designer
  • Saturday Night Live
  • "Hosts: Tina Fey & Amy Poehler"
  • NBC
  • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Outstanding Lighting Design | Lighting Direction For A Variety Special - 2015
Outstanding Lighting Design | Lighting Direction For A Variety Series - 2015
  • Nominee
  • Phil Hymes, Lighting Designer
  • Saturday Night Live
  • "Host: Amy Adams"
  • NBC
  • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Outstanding Lighting Design | Lighting Direction For A Variety Series - 2014
  • Nominee
  • Phil Hymes, Lighting Designer
  • Saturday Night Live
  • "Host: Jimmy Fallon"
  • NBC
  • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Outstanding Lighting Design | Lighting Direction For A Variety Series - 2014
Outstanding Lighting Design | Lighting Direction For A Variety Series - 2013
  • Nominee
  • Phil Hymes
  • Saturday Night Live
  • "Host: Martin Short"
  • NBC
  • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Outstanding Lighting Design | Lighting Direction For A Variety Series - 2012
  • Nominee
  • Phil Hymes, Lighting Designer
  • Saturday Night Live
  • "Host: Jimmy Fallon"
  • NBC
  • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Outstanding Lighting Design | Lighting Direction For A Variety, Music, Or Comedy Series - 2011
  • Nominee
  • Phil Hymes, Lighting Designer
  • Saturday Night Live
  • "Host: Justin Timberlake"
  • NBC
  • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy Programming - 2010
  • Nominee
  • Phil Hymes, Lighting Designer
  • Saturday Night Live
  • "Host: Betty White"
  • NBC
  • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video

The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more

Phil Hymes on the SNL set
Kenan Thompson, Phil Hymes, and Seth Meyers
Phil Hymes with Lorne Michaels
Phil Hymes and Eugene Lee
Phil Hymes with Cheri Oteri and Will Ferrell
Rick McGuinness and Phil Hymes
Rick McGuinness and Phil Hymes
Fill 1
Fill 1
Phil Hymes on the SNL set
Camera

Phil Hymes on the SNL set

Kenan Thompson, Phil Hymes, and Seth Meyers
Camera

Kenan Thompson, Phil Hymes, and Seth Meyers in an SNL sketch

Phil Hymes with Lorne Michaels
Camera

Phil Hymes with Lorne Michaels

Phil Hymes and Eugene Lee
Camera

Phil Hymes and Eugene Lee

Phil Hymes with Cheri Oteri and Will Ferrell
Camera

Phil Hymes with Cheri Oteri and Will Ferrell at SNL, 1997

Rick McGuinness and Phil Hymes
Camera

Rick McGuinness and Phil Hymes at the 2018 Creative Arts Awards, with their Emmy for Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Series on Saturday Night Live

Vince Bucci/AP/Invision
Rick McGuinness and Phil Hymes
Camera

Rick McGuinness and Phil Hymes accept their award at the 2018 Creative Arts Emmys.

Invision/AP
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