David Scherman

{{short description|American photojournalist and editor (1916-1997)}}

{{Infobox artist

| name = David E. Scherman

| birth_name = David Edward Scherman

| birth_date = {{birth date|1916|3|2}}

| birth_place = Manhattan, New York U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1997|5|5|1916|3|2}}

| death_place = Stony Point, New York

| field = Photojournalism, editing

| training = Dartmouth College

| works = The Best of Life, 1973

| image = Uncle DaveS.jpg

}}

David E. Scherman (March 2, 1916 – May 5, 1997) was an American photojournalist and editor.

Born in Manhattan to a Celia née Harris and William Scherman,{{Cite web |title="United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch|website=www.familysearch.org |url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KMR-HFRZ}} Jewish family,{{Cite web|url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/in-hitlers-bath-exhibition-reveals-how-war-photographer-was-haunted-by-dachau/|title = In Hitler's bath: Exhibition reveals how war photographer was haunted by Dachau}} he grew up in New Rochelle, New York and then attended Dartmouth College. He graduated in 1936 and became a photographer for Life magazine, covering World War II. He teamed up with a Condé Nast Publications photographer Lee Miller for many of these assignments. One photograph by Scherman of Miller in the bathtub of Adolf Hitler's apartment in Munich is one of the most iconic images from the Miller-Scherman partnership.

Scherman was on the steam ocean liner SS Zamzam when it sank in April 1941 after being attacked by German merchant raider Atlantis. Atlantis later rescued the survivors.{{cite web |last=Anderson |first=Eleanor |title=Introduction |url=https://sites.google.com/site/zamzamship/home/background |accessdate=4 December 2024 |work=The Zamzam Story}}

Scherman changed career from photographer to editor and was employed as senior editor when Life magazine ceased its weekly format in 1972. He died of cancer at age 81.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/07/arts/david-scherman-81-editor-whose-photos-sank-a-ship.html | work=The New York Times | first=Holcomb B. | last=Noble | title=David Scherman, 81, Editor Whose Photos Sank a Ship | date=7 May 1997}}

He was portrayed by Andy Samberg in the 2023 drama film Lee.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-10 |title=Andy Samberg reveals "hesitation" over unexpected role in Lee |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a62131071/andy-samberg-lee-unexpected-role/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}