Biography for
Haskell Wexler More at IMDbPro »

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Two-time Academy Award-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler was adjudged one of the ten most influential cinematographers in movie history, according to an International Cinematographers Guild survey of its membership. He won his Oscars in both black & white and color, for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) (1966) and Bound for Glory (1976) (1976). He also shot much of Days of Heaven (1978) (1978), for which credited director of photography Nestor Almendros -- who was losing his eye-sight, won a Best Cinematography Oscar that Wexler feels should have been jointly shared by both. In 1993, Wexler was awarded a Lifetime Achivement award by the cinematographer's guild, the American Society of Cinematographers. He received five Oscar nominations for his cinematography, in total, plus one Emmy Award in a career that has spanned six decades. Now 86 years old, Wexler was active as r recently as 2007.

In addition to his masterful cinematography, Wexler directed the seminal late Sixties film Medium Cool (1969) and has directed and/or shot many documentaries that display his progressive political views. He was the subject of a 2004 documentary shot by his son Mark Wexler, Tell Them Who You Are (2004).

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Trivia

Brother of Jerrold Wexler and Yale Wexler.

Apprenticed as a camera operator for James Wong Howe.

Uncle of Tanya Wexler.

Father of Mark Wexler, Jeff Wexler and Kathy Wexler.

He is one of only 6 cinematographers to have a star on the famed "Hollywood Walk of Fame"; the other 5 being, Hal Mohr, Ray Rennahan, J. Peverell Marley, Leon Shamroy, and Conrad L. Hall.

Step-uncle of actresses Daryl Hannah, Page Hannah & actor Don Hannah.

He met George Lucas when he was still a teenager because of their mutual interest in cars. He suggested that Lucas go to film school, which is why Lucas thanked him in many ways.

Son of Simon Wexler.

Member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC).