Clothier made his debut as director of photography with "Sofia" (1948). He went on to lens a variety of films including the aerial sequences in "The High and the Mighty" (1954), the sci-fi thriller "Killers from Space" (1954) and John Farrow's adventure "The Sea Chase" (1955). He shot his first western "Seven Men from Now" in 1956. Clothier went on to work with a number of top directors including Frank Borzage ("China Doll", 1958), John Ford ("The Horse Soldiers", 1959; "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence", 1962; and "Cheyenne Autumn" 1964) and Sam Peckinpah ("The Deadly Companions" 1961). He shot John Wayne's directorial debut, "The Alamo" (1960), and other Wayne westerns including Howard Hawks' "Rio Lobo" (1970) and "Big Jake" (1971). Clothier also worked with director Andrew V McLaglen on eight films including "Shenandoah" (1965), "The Way West" (1967), "Bandolero!" (1968) and "Chisum" (1970). He retired after shooting his last film "The Train Robbers" (1973). Clothier died in January 1996 at the age of 92.