Born in Jamaica, Queens, Byrne initially worked as an animation cameraman prior to moving into live action cinematography.
He worked in the camera department for Conrad L. Hall and William A. Fraker.
Fraker assigned Byrne to work as the camera operator on his directorial debut Monte Walsh.
Byrne debuted as director of photography on the 1977 comedy Smokey and the Bandit for Hal Needham.
Other credits include Sixteen Candles, Bull Durham, and 92 episodes of the NBC sitcom Mad About You.