Set Photographer Matt Dinerstein, Known for 'The Bear' and Chicago Franchise, Dies at 69

Matt Dinerstein, a veteran unit still photographer who documented the production of Season 1 of The Bear and NBC's Chicago franchise for more than two decades, died May 1 in Chicago after a 16-year battle with brain cancer. He was 69.

The Details

Dinerstein spent more than two decades working as a unit still photographer based in Chicago, building a body of work that spanned critically acclaimed television drama, long-running procedural series, and independent film, according to Deadline.

His television credits included Season 1 of The Bear, NBC's Chicago P.D. and Chicago Fire, the medical drama ER, and the reality competition series Top Chef. On the film side, Deadline reported his credits included Masked and Anonymous (2003), The Lucky Ones (2008), The Merry Gentleman (2008), and Peacock (2010).

Born in 1956 in New York, Dinerstein attended the University of Denver before settling permanently in Chicago, where he would spend more than two decades behind the camera capturing still images on film and television sets, according to Deadline. He continued working until 2023, when vision loss resulting from his radiation treatments forced him to retire.

His brother David Dinerstein — an Oscar-winning producer whose credits include Summer of Soul — confirmed his illness and its duration to Deadline. "He had battled brain cancer for 16 years," David Dinerstein said.

Despite the toll of his illness and the vision loss that ended his career, Dinerstein remained engaged in life outside the set. He skied with a sighted guide for the visually impaired and participated in community events, including the Rise to Shine Inclusive Run & Walk in support of The Chicago Lighthouse, according to Deadline.

The unit still photographer is a largely invisible role in film and television production. Working on set throughout a production's run, still photographers capture images used in press materials, marketing campaigns, and editorial coverage. Their work shapes the public's first visual impression of a show or film — and in the case of prestige productions like The Bear, those images can become among the most widely circulated associated with a project.

Context

Dinerstein is survived by his wife Angela; their children Alec, Max, and Tess; his father Fred; and his brother David, according to Deadline. He was predeceased by his mother Barbara and sister Adrea.

The family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a local animal shelter or rescue, Deadline reported.

Dinerstein's career in Chicago spanned more than two decades of the city's television production landscape. Over that period, Chicago became a major center of long-running television production, anchored in part by the Chicago franchise series and prestige productions that drew network and streaming investment to the city.

What's Next

A celebration of life and a retrospective photo exhibition honoring Dinerstein's work is planned for June in Chicago, according to Deadline. The exhibition will offer an opportunity for colleagues and audiences to see the set photography that documented his career across decades of Chicago-based production.