Thomas Edward Curran III

  12/9/62 - 8/20/24 Beloved father, husband, son, brother and friend, Tom passed away suddenly on August 20, 2024 in Los Angeles. Tom looked for the light in every person he met, he was warm, kind and funny and so began his many friendships. Tom also saw the light in nature and humanity, and so began his success as a Director of Photography.  As an Emmy award winning cinematographer and filmmaker, Tom traveled the world making documentaries and acclaimed television series.
Tom was born in upstate New York, but grew up in Alaska where his father Tom Jr. was the District Attorney of Anchorage. He spent his childhood with his siblings, visiting Portage Glacier, skiing at Mt Alyeska with his mother, Mary Jane and sister, Maeve catching fish with his brothers, Desmond and Gavin near the cabin and driving the snow-machine in the wilderness, developing a life-long love for the outdoors and adventure. Tom was a natural athlete and his Dad helped him to be an excellent Little League pitcher. When his beloved father passed away the family moved to Cape Cod, Massachusetts where Tom loved boating and fishing the waterways of the Cape with all his Doherty cousins. Tom graduated from Milton Academy where he developed a talent for photography and later from Boston College where he played Division I tennis. Tennis would be a passion of his for the rest of his life - he always packed a tennis racquet on his travels and found playing partners all over the world. In college, he made extra dollars as a DJ and loved 80s music, but his true passion was reggae which he always had playing in his car. Tom shared a love of all types of music with his sister, Maeve and his younger brothers, Desmond and Gavin bringing them to concerts and shows such as Prince, Peter Tosh, REM, Teddy Pe and The English Beat. These early experiences certainly influenced Desmond’s career as an actor and performer.  Tom and Maeve arrived in this world “one after the other”!  They remained very close through the years. Tom just loved to guide her choice and purchase of a new car; they always found the “right one”. When Gavin, his late brother expressed his interest in cameras, Tom shared his knowledge with Gav and then gave him many opportunities to learn and experience all aspects of the industry.
In the beginning of his career Tom focused on adventure cinematography, and shot the Iditarod dog sledding race seven times for ABC which won him an Emmy Award. He was always so determined to get that perfect shot that he once developed frostbite on his leg hanging out of a helicopter. Tom also produced and directed his own films-- his award-winning film “Adrift” aired at many prestigious film festivals as well as on PBS and was described by the Boston Globe as “deeply personal, resonant and brave.”  In the film, Tom celebrated his strong relationship and love for his family. It was Des, the fisherman and Gav, the pilot who drove the storyline. Tom was proud to have Gavin on board as gaffer for Adrift.  In the final scene, Tom and Mary Jane are flying their kites at Nauset Beach. Tom “taught her how”, as he did in many aspects of their family life. Such a beautiful memory!
  After Tom moved to Los Angeles in the early 2000s his career as a Director of Photography took off. He was a master of documentary hand-held shooting. His shoots were varied—from feature documentaries for HBO to comedies for Netflix to adventure shows for National Geographic. He would go from filming on a glacier in Greenland to shooting fashion icons in Paris to filming fishermen off the coast of Vietnam. Tom owned Curran Camera, an equipment rental business in Los Angeles and was passionate about mentoring young filmmakers. 
  Tom married his wife Karin in 2004, and they welcomed their daughter Delaney in 2006. He was a wonderful father and husband, and the family loved traveling together.  Their favorite trip was to Ireland where Tom proved himself a master of driving on the left-hand side of the road and exploring every castle and ruin his daughter could find. Tom was devoted to Delaney and always encouraged her to try new things, and was tireless in bringing her to any activity she wanted to do. He was extremely proud of her many accomplishments. 
Tom leaves his wife Karin Hoving and daughter Delaney Hoving-Curran of Los Angeles, CA, his mother Mary Jane Curran and stepfather Donald Cameron of East Orleans, MA, his sister Maeve Curran of Las Vegas, NV and brother, Desmond Curran of Plymouth, MA. His late brother Gavin Curran of Martha’s Vineyard, MA predeceased him.
  A Celebration of Life will be announced on social media.
In lieu of flowers, donations to favorite charities are suggested.