Award-Winning Cinematographer Haskell Wexler Dies At Age 93

One of Hollywood’s legendary cinematographers, Haskell Wexler, died peacefully in his sleep Sunday in his home in Santa Monica, California, according to a report from the Associated Press. Wexler was 93-years-old. He is survived by his two sons, Jeff and Mark, his daughter Kathy Wexler, and his wife, Rita Taggert.

An icon in the movie business, Haskell Wexler is most remembered for his work on the films Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Bound for Glory, both of which earned him Oscar awards. His memorable cinematography in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Coming Home, and In the Heat of the Night cemented his legacy in the business and led to a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a rare accomplishment for a cinematographer. In fact, only five other cinematographers can claim the same.

One of Wexler’s sons, Jeff, spoke glowingly of his father’s inspiration and guidance, traits that helped Jeff earn Oscar nominations himself as a sound man for films like The Last Samurai and Independence Day. Twitter has been abuzz with nods to the legend, and Wexler’s niece, actress Daryl Hannah, posted this loving tribute to her uncle on her Facebook account.

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In addition to his two Oscars, three other nominations and Hollywood star, Haskell Wexler earned the distinction of becoming the first active cameraman to win a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Cinematographers in 1993. Fourteen years later, the Independent Documentary Association bestowed another Lifetime Achievement Award upon him. His work on Medium Cool as writer and director has drawn critical acclaim since it was released in 1969 and his contributions to 61* earned the film an Emmy nomination in 2001. Directed by Billy Crystal, 61* told the story of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle and their quest to break Babe Ruth’s home run record. Wexler was 89 during the filming.

Born in Chicago in 1922, Haskell Wexler attended the University of California-Berkeley for just a year and a half before enlisting in the Merchant Marines in advance of World War II. Wexler’s directorial debut in a feature film came in 1963 on an immigrant drama, America, America. Before his passing, Wexler directed the documentary Four Days in Chicago, where he documented the Occupy Movement’s demonstrations against the 2012 NATO Summit. According to his IMDb page, his final film, To Begin the World Over Again: The Life of Thomas Paine, is in post-production.

Haskell Wexler was also known as an outspoken activist and a self-described radical, with political views that occasionally did not blend well with other filmmakers. He was fired during the filming of The Conversationby director Francis Ford Coppola, and Milos Forman relieved him during the making of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. He often felt he could direct a film better than the actual director, which led him to his work on documentaries, a genre that allowed him to both direct and take charge of the cinematography.

Wexler was partially responsible for George Lucas enrolling in film school, as the two met in their teens due to a mutual interest in cars. The two later collaborated on the 1973 film American Graffiti, in which Lucas directed and Wexler was credited as a “visual consultant.” Wexler was so committed to the film that he routinely flew to San Francisco at night after shooting commercials during the day in Los Angeles, work until dawn, and repeat as necessary. As fate would have it, Wexler directed the documentary Who Needs Sleep? that highlighted how film crews were overworked.

Haskell Wexler, dead at the age of 93, was honored to make movies and did not take the job lightly.

“We, as filmmakers, are privileged. We can make people cry or laugh. We can make (people) think and feel. It is a great privilege and a great responsibility.”