Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    EmmysSuperheroes GuideSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideBest Of 2025 So FarDisability Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
8 suggestions available
Watchlist
Sign in
Sign in
New customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Biography
  • Awards
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Haskell Wexler(1922-2015)

  • Cinematographer
  • Camera and Electrical Department
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Haskell Wexler at an event for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
Trailer for Latino
Play trailer1:27
Latino (1985)
2 Videos
86 Photos
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 part of Days of Heaven (1978) (1978), for which credited director of photography Nestor Almendros -- won a Best Cinematography Oscar that Wexler initially felt should have been jointly shared by both. Later he admitted he was just finishing the work of Almendros and when Bert Schneider offer him more credit in the Criterion Dvd release of the film, he turned down the offer. 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.

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).
BornFebruary 6, 1922
DiedDecember 27, 2015(93)
BornFebruary 6, 1922
DiedDecember 27, 2015(93)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Won 2 Oscars
    • 17 wins & 12 nominations total

Photos86

View Poster
View Poster
View Poster
View Poster
View Poster
View Poster
+ 80
View Poster

Known for

Medium Cool (1969)
Medium Cool
7.2
  • Cinematographer
  • 1969
Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, and Warren Oates in In the Heat of the Night (1967)
In the Heat of the Night
7.9
  • Cinematographer
  • 1967
Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
8.0
  • Cinematographer
  • 1966
Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
8.7
  • Cinematographer
  • 1975

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Cinematographer



  • From Wounded Knee to Standing Rock: A Reporter's Journey (2019)
    From Wounded Knee to Standing Rock: A Reporter's Journey
    9.0
    TV Movie
    • Cinematographer
    • 2019
  • Ian Ruskin in To Begin the World Over Again: The Life of Thomas Paine (2016)
    To Begin the World Over Again: The Life of Thomas Paine
    8.5
    TV Movie
    • director of photography
    • 2016
  • Neil Young - Haskell Wexler - Teatro Session (2015)
    Neil Young - Haskell Wexler - Teatro Session
    Video
    • Cinematographer
    • 2015
  • Four Days in Chicago (2013)
    Four Days in Chicago
    7.7
    • Cinematographer
    • 2013
  • Haskell Wexler in Medium Cool Revisited (2013)
    Medium Cool Revisited
    6.8
    Short
    • Cinematographer
    • 2013
  • Eagles: Live at the Capital Centre (March 1977) (2013)
    Eagles: Live at the Capital Centre (March 1977)
    8.9
    • Cinematographer
    • 2013
  • Mission 26: The Big Endeavour (2012)
    Mission 26: The Big Endeavour
    Video
    • Cinematographer
    • 2012
  • Occupy Los Angeles (2012)
    Occupy Los Angeles
    2.4
    • Cinematographer
    • 2012
  • Bringing King to China (2011)
    Bringing King to China
    5.9
    • Cinematographer
    • 2011
  • Will the Real Terrorist Please Stand Up? (2010)
    Will the Real Terrorist Please Stand Up?
    7.6
    • Cinematographer
    • 2010
  • Lisbeth Scott in Hope Is A Thing (2010)
    Hope Is A Thing
    Video
    • Cinematographer
    • 2010
  • Tippi Hedren in Something's Gonna Live (2009)
    Something's Gonna Live
    7.2
    • Cinematographer
    • 2009
  • In the Name of Democracy: America's Conscience, a Soldier's Sacrifice, (2009)
    In the Name of Democracy: America's Conscience, a Soldier's Sacrifice,
    8.1
    • Cinematographer
    • 2009
  • A Sense of Wonder (2008)
    A Sense of Wonder
    8.3
    Video
    • Cinematographer
    • 2008
  • Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny, and Ginnifer Goodwin in Big Love (2006)
    Big Love
    7.7
    TV Series
    • director of photography
    • 2007

Camera and Electrical Department



  • Haskell Wexler, Mark Kirkland, and 'Weird Al' Yankovic in The Moving Picture Co. 1914 (2014)
    The Moving Picture Co. 1914
    7.7
    Short
    • camera operator
    • 2014
  • Where the Sky Is Born (2013)
    Where the Sky Is Born
    Short
    • additional cinematographer
    • 2013
  • Mission 26: The Big Endeavour (2012)
    Mission 26: The Big Endeavour
    Video
    • camera operator
    • 2012
  • Revenge of the Electric Car (2011)
    Revenge of the Electric Car
    7.1
    • Danny DeVito shot by
    • 2011
  • From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks (2007)
    From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks
    8.8
    • camera operator
    • 2007
  • Who Needs Sleep? (2006)
    Who Needs Sleep?
    7.1
    • camera operator
    • 2006
  • Tell Them Who You Are (2004)
    Tell Them Who You Are
    6.9
    • additional camera operator
    • 2004
  • Bread and Roses (2000)
    Bread and Roses
    7.0
    • second camera operator
    • 2000
  • Steal Big Steal Little (1995)
    Steal Big Steal Little
    4.7
    • additional photographer
    • 1995
  • At the Max (1991)
    At the Max
    7.5
    • camera consultant
    • camera operator
    • 1991
  • To the Moon, Alice (1990)
    To the Moon, Alice
    6.8
    Short
    • camera operator: second unit
    • 1990
  • Through the Wire (1990)
    Through the Wire
    6.2
    • additional photographer
    • 1990
  • The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels (1988)
    The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels
    7.6
    Video
    • additional photography
    • 1988
  • UB40 and Chrissie Hynde: I Got You Babe (1985)
    UB40 and Chrissie Hynde: I Got You Babe
    5.8
    Music Video
    • additional cinematographer
    • 1985
  • Video from Hell (1985)
    Video from Hell
    8.6
    Video
    • camera operator
    • 1985

Director



  • Neil Young - Haskell Wexler - Teatro Session (2015)
    Neil Young - Haskell Wexler - Teatro Session
    Video
    • Director
    • 2015
  • Four Days in Chicago (2013)
    Four Days in Chicago
    7.7
    • Director
    • 2013
  • Haskell Wexler in Medium Cool Revisited (2013)
    Medium Cool Revisited
    6.8
    Short
    • Director
    • 2013
  • From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks (2007)
    From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks
    8.8
    • Director
    • 2007
  • Who Needs Sleep? (2006)
    Who Needs Sleep?
    7.1
    • Director
    • 2006
  • Bus Rider's Union (2000)
    Bus Rider's Union
    6.7
    • Director
    • 2000
  • Latino (1985)
    Latino
    5.8
    • Director
    • 1985
  • Tom Waits: In the Neighborhood
    7.7
    Music Video
    • Director
    • 1983
  • Bus II
    • Director
    • 1983
  • No Nukes (1980)
    No Nukes
    6.8
    • Director (documentary footage directed by, uncredited)
    • 1980
  • Paul Newman in War Without Winners (1978)
    War Without Winners
    6.6
    Short
    • Director
    • 1978
  • John Wayne in John Wayne for Great Western Savings (1978)
    John Wayne for Great Western Savings
    8.2
    Short
    • Director
    • 1978
  • Robert Blake in STP Oil Treatment (1977)
    STP Oil Treatment
    Short
    • Director
    • 1977
  • Cheryl Ladd in Polaroid Glasses (1976)
    Polaroid Glasses
    Short
    • Director
    • 1976
  • Underground (1976)
    Underground
    7.0
    • Director
    • 1976

Videos2

No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos
Clip 1:58
No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos
Latino
Trailer 1:27
Latino
Latino
Trailer 1:27
Latino

Personal details

Edit
  • Official site
    • Hommage
  • Alternative names
    • Mark Jeffrey
  • Born
    • February 6, 1922
    • Chicago, Illinois, USA
  • Died
    • December 27, 2015
    • Santa Monica, California, USA(undisclosed)
  • Spouses
      Rita Taggart1989 - December 27, 2015 (his death)
  • Children
      Mark Wexler
  • Parents
    • Simon Wexler
  • Relatives
      Tanya Wexler(Niece or Nephew)
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Biographical Movie
    • 2 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    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.
  • Quotes
    We, as filmmakers, are privileged. We can make people cry or laugh. We can make think and feel. It is a great privilege and a great responsibility.
  • Nickname
    • Pete

Contribute to this page

Suggest an edit or add missing content
  • Learn more about contributing
Edit page

More to explore

Poster
List
IMDb Summer Watch Guide
Browse the guide
Production art
Photos
Before They Were Famous: Actors' Early Roles
See the gallery

Add demo reel with IMDbPro

Demo reel thumbnail
Make your IMDb page stand out by adding a demo reel
Upload your demo reel

Add demo reel with IMDbPro

Make your IMDb page stand out by adding a demo reel
Upload your demo reel
Demo reel thumbnail

How much have you rated?

Keep track of how much of Haskell Wexler’s work you have rated. Go to your list.

Projects in development

Get more at IMDbPro
Poster
List
Most Popular Indian Movies of 2025 So Far
See the list

Recently viewed

Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
Get the IMDb App
Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
Follow IMDb on social
Get the IMDb App
For Android and iOS
Get the IMDb App
  • Help
  • Site Index
  • IMDbPro
  • Box Office Mojo
  • License IMDb Data
  • Press Room
  • Advertising
  • Jobs
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your Ads Privacy Choices
IMDb, an Amazon company

© 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.