- His first film was Life of Villa (1912) by American Mutoscope and Biograph Co., a documentary about the struggle of Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. While filming a battle between Villa's forces and federal troops near Ojinaga, he was captured by government soldiers and brought before their commanding general. Rosher thought he was about to be executed as a spy, and things didn't look too good for him until the Mexican general noticed Rosher's Masonic pin in his lapel. The general then gave Rosher the Masonic greeting; it turned out he was a Mason, too. Instead of being shot as a spy, Rosher was treated as a guest, and was later released after the Mexican government made a deal with the American government that allowed their troops to cross into American territory in order to outflank Villa's forces and attack them from the rear.
- Father of actress Joan Marsh and cinematographer Charles Rosher Jr..
- Frequent collaborator with director George Sidney; they worked on eight films together.
- He photographed the 1921 (Little Lord Fauntleroy (1921)) and 1936 (Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936)) versions of "Little Lord Fauntleroy".
- Was once the highest paid cinematographer in the world.
- Friend of F.W. Murnau
- Sidney Franklin was Rosher's favorite director to work for.
- Pancho Villa wanted him to film the funeral of a friend. The funeral lasted three days, but Rosher only had material to film for half a day. So, he just acted as if he was filming, because he was afraid he would be shot.
- Is portrayed by Carl Dillard in And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself (2003)
- Was the first cinematographer to win an Academy Award for Best Cinematographer, for Sunrise (1927).
- Film historian Anthony Slide got to know Rocher later in life, when the cinematographer would visit London to meet young film enthusiasts. In his book A Special Relationship, Slide describes Rocher as very generous with his time and insight, but "distressing" in his "extreme right-wing attitudes, particularly toward African Americans, whom he regarded as a danger to the country and the principal reason for his no longer living in the United States.".
- Ended his career in London and retired to Portugal.
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