Lou Dematteis is an American producer and photographer recognized for emphasizing social, environmental, and political conflicts in the United States and globally.
This article presents all the key details about Lou Dematteis’s life. Before diving into the full story, here is some quick information.
| Full Name | Lou Dematteis |
| Year of Birth | 1948 |
| Place of Birth | Palo Alto, California, United States |
| Age | 77 years old (as of 2025) |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Photographer and filmmaker |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse Name | Amy Tan |
Early Life & Education
According to Wikipedia, Lou Dematteis was born in 1948 in Palo Alto, California, United States. His exact birth date is not publicly known. He is currently 77 years old.
He earned a political science degree from the University of San Francisco and studied photography at the De Young Museum Art School in San Francisco. No other information about his education, parents, or siblings is available online.
Career Journey
Lou Dematteis has worked for more than thirty years in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, and Asia.
He served as a staff photographer for Reuters and gained recognition during the Contra war in Nicaragua. In 1986, his images of Eugene Hasenfus received global attention.
He captured the damage caused by Texaco’s oil activities in the Ecuadorian Amazon. His work focuses on the health effects of toxic contamination in the Amazon region.
His photography has appeared in the exhibit “Crude Reflections: ChevronTexaco’s Rainforest Legacy.” His work has been displayed both in the United States and internationally. In 1992, he led the first U.S. photographers’ exhibit in Vietnam after the war ended.
His photos have been shown across four continents. In 2007, he received a grant to showcase his work from the Ecuadorian Amazon in affected communities. His book, Crude Reflections/Cruda Realidad, came out in 2008. He is currently based in San Francisco.
He works in both film and photography. He produced and directed the documentary Crimebuster: A Son’s Search for His Father, which began airing on Public Television in June 2012.
His latest project is the film noir feature The Other Barrio, which premiered at the San Francisco Indie Fest on February 8, 2015.
Net Worth
His exact net worth is not publicly shared, but based on his professional history, Lou Dematteis’s estimated net worth may be around $5 million in 2025.
His income mainly comes from his work as a film producer. Continued projects and his commitment to his field may add to his earnings.
Personal Life
Lou Dematteis married Amy Tan in 1974. They live in Sausalito, California, near San Francisco. Their home, designed to feel open and comfortable, includes features that support aging in place.
The couple decided not to have children. Amy Tan made this choice due to fears related to mental health issues in her family. Her maternal grandmother died by suicide, her mother often mentioned suicide, and she has faced suicidal thoughts.
