Caleb Deschanel


Joseph Caleb Deschanel, is an American cinematographer and director of film and television. He has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography six times. He is a member of the National Film Preservation Board of the Library of Congress, representing the American Society of Cinematographers. He has been married to actress Mary Jo Deschanel since 1972, with whom he has two daughters, actresses Emily and Zooey Deschanel.

Early life and professional education

Deschanel was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Ann Ward and Paul Jules Deschanel. His father was French, from Oullins, Rhône, and his mother was U.S.-born. Deschanel was raised in his mother's Quaker religion.
He enrolled in Severn School for his high school years. He attended Johns Hopkins University from 1962 to 1966, where he met Walter Murch, with whom he staged "happenings," including one in which Murch simply sat down and ate an apple for an audience. Murch graduated a year ahead of him and encouraged Deschanel to follow him to the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, where he graduated in 1968. During this time, Deschanel was a member of a band of film students called "The Dirty Dozen;" this group attracted attention from the Hollywood system. Following his graduation, he attended the American Film Institute Conservatory and graduated in 1969 as a member of its first class.

Personal life

Deschanel joined the American Society of Cinematographers, or A.S.C., in 1969, the year of his graduation from the AFI Conservatory. In 1972, three years later, he married the former Mary Jo Weir. The older of their two daughters, Emily, was born in 1976; their younger daughter, Zooey, was born in 1980.

Filmography

As director

As cinematographer

YearTitleDirectorNotes
1979Being ThereHal Ashby
1979More American GraffitiBill L. Norton
1979The Black StallionCarroll Ballard
1983The Right StuffPhilip Kaufman
1984The NaturalBarry Levinson
1985The Slugger's WifeHal Ashby
1994It Could Happen to YouAndrew Bergman
1996Fly Away HomeCarroll Ballard
1998Hope FloatsForest Whitaker
1999Anna and the KingAndy Tennant
1999Message in a BottleLuis Mandoki
2000The PatriotRoland Emmerich
2003The HuntedWilliam Friedkin
2003TimelineRichard Donner
2004National TreasureJon Turteltaub
2004The Passion of the ChristMel Gibson
2006Ask the DustRobert Towne
2008KillshotJohn Madden
2008The Spiderwick ChroniclesMark Waters
2009My Sister's KeeperNick Cassavetes
2011Dream HouseJim Sheridan
2011Killer JoeWilliam Friedkin
2012Timur Bekmambetov
2012Jack ReacherChristopher McQuarrie
2014Winter's TaleAkiva Goldsman
2016Rules Don't ApplyWarren Beatty
2017UnforgettableDenise Di Novi
2018Never Look AwayFlorian Henckel von Donnersmarck
2019The Lion KingJon Favreau

Additional photography credits

Awards and Nominations

Academy Awards

BAFTA Awards

American Society of Cinematographers

National Society of Film Critics

Satellite Awards