Haskell Wexler

Date of Birth: February 6, 1922

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: December 27, 2015

Biography

Haskell Wexler was an American cinematographer, film producer, and director, regarded as one of the most influential figures in the field of cinematography. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he began his career in the 1950s, working on a range of documentary films and television projects. Wexler’s breakthrough came with his work on the 1966 film “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” for which he won his first Academy Award for Best Cinematography. He is also known for his work on “In the Heat of the Night,” “Bound for Glory,” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Wexler’s directorial debut came in 1969 with the film “Medium Cool,” a groundbreaking piece that combined narrative storytelling with documentary-style filmmaking, offering a potent commentary on the social and political upheavals of the 1960s. Throughout his career, Wexler was known for his innovative techniques and his commitment to capturing the truth on film, whether through narrative features or documentaries. Wexler was also a political activist and used his talents to support various causes, from labor rights to opposition to the Vietnam War. His distinguished career earned him numerous awards and accolades, including two Academy Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

5 Interesting Facts about Haskell Wexler

1. Haskell Wexler won two Academy Awards for Best Cinematography for “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” (1966) and “Bound for Glory” (1976).

2. Wexler was known for his documentary work and directed the influential film “Medium Cool,” which combined narrative and documentary filmmaking.

3. He was a strong advocate for labor rights and used his films to highlight social and political issues.

4. Wexler received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1996 for his contributions to the film industry.

5. He was inducted into the American Society of Cinematographers’ Hall of Fame in 1993.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Haskell Wexler

1. “The camera lies all the time; lies 24 times/second.”

2. “A cinematographer is a visual psychiatrist, moving an audience through a movie … making them think the way you want them to think, painting pictures in the dark.”

3. “What we do, what we let happen, what we don’t stop, all this matters. The smallest act matters.”

4. “I’m interested in people who are involved in making the world a better place.”

5. “I believe in using the medium of film to tell the truth.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Haskell Wexler’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million.

Children

Haskell Wexler had two children, Jeff Wexler and Mark Wexler. Jeff Wexler followed in his father’s footsteps and became a well-known production sound mixer, while Mark Wexler is a documentary filmmaker and photojournalist.