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William A. Fraker

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William A. Fraker
Born
William Ashman Fraker

September 29, 1923
DiedMay 31, 2010 (aged 86)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationCinematographer
TitleA.S.C.
Board member ofA.S.C. (President 1979–1980, 1984, 1991–1992)
SpouseDenise

William Ashman Fraker, A.S.C., B.S.C. (September 29, 1923 – May 31, 2010) was an American cinematographer, film director and producer. He was nominated five times for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. In 2000, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) honoring his career. Fraker graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 1950.[1]

Life and career

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Fraker was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of a Hollywood studio photographer. His mother was a native of Mexico who had fled the Mexican Revolution with her family. Fraker's parents died during his childhood and he was subsequently raised by his Mexican grandmother, who instructed him in photography like she had with his father before him.

He served four years in either the U.S. Navy[2][3][4] or the U.S. Coast Guard[5][6][7] during World War II, seeing action in the Pacific. Fraker then attended USC under the G.I. Bill, graduating with a degree in Cinema. He was admitted into the camera union in 1954 and subsequently spent years working in television before breaking into the film industry.[8][9][10]

As cinematographer, his films include The President's Analyst (1967), Rosemary's Baby (1968), Bullitt (1968), Paint Your Wagon (1969), The Day of the Dolphin (1973), Coonskin (1975), Looking For Mr. Goodbar (1977), Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977), Heaven Can Wait (1978), 1941 (1979), WarGames (1983), Irreconcilable Differences (1984), Murphy's Romance (1985), Tombstone (1993), and Street Fighter (1994).[citation needed]

He directed three theatrical films – Monte Walsh (1970), A Reflection of Fear (1971) and The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981) – as well as episodes of several television series.[citation needed]

Death

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Fraker died on May 31, 2010, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after a battle with cancer. He was 86. He is survived by his wife Denise. He was predeceased in 1992 by son, William A. Fraker Jr., an assistant cameraman.[11]

Filmography

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Cinematographer

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Film

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Year Title Director Notes
1961 Forbid Them Not Robert L. Kimble Also credited as producer
1966 Incubus Leslie Stevens Uncredited
1967 Games Curtis Harrington
The Fox Mark Rydell
The President's Analyst Theodore J. Flicker
1968 Rosemary's Baby Roman Polanski
Bullitt Peter Yates
1969 Paint Your Wagon Joshua Logan
1971 Dusty and Sweets McGee Floyd Mutrux Also cast as "The Cellist"
1973 The Day of the Dolphin Mike Nichols
1975 Coonskin Ralph Bakshi
Rancho Deluxe Frank Perry
Aloha, Bobby and Rose Floyd Mutrux
1976 Gator Burt Reynolds
The Killer Inside Me Burt Kennedy
1977 Exorcist II: The Heretic John Boorman
Looking for Mr. Goodbar Richard Brooks
1978 American Hot Wax Floyd Mutrux
Heaven Can Wait Warren Beatty
Buck Henry
1979 Old Boyfriends Joan Tewkesbury
1941 Steven Spielberg
1980 The Hollywood Knights Floyd Mutrux
1981 Sharky's Machine Burt Reynolds
1982 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Colin Higgins
Hey Good Lookin' Ralph Bakshi Uncredited
1983 WarGames John Badham
1984 Irreconcilable Differences Charles Shyer Also cast as 'Gabrielle' Cinematographer
Protocol Herbert Ross
1985 Fever Pitch Richard Brooks
Murphy's Romance Martin Ritt
1986 SpaceCamp Harry Winer
1987 Burglar Hugh Wilson
Baby Boom Charles Shyer
1989 Chances Are Emile Ardolino
An Innocent Man Peter Yates
1990 The Freshman Andrew Bergman
1992 Memoirs of an Invisible Man John Carpenter
Honeymoon in Vegas Andrew Bergman
1993 Tombstone George P. Cosmatos Also credited as associate producer
1994 There Goes My Baby Floyd Mutrux
Street Fighter Steven E. de Souza
1995 Father of the Bride Part II Charles Shyer With Elliot Davis
1996 The Island of Dr. Moreau John Frankenheimer
1997 Vegas Vacation Stephen Kessler
Broadway Brawler Dennis Dugan
Lee Grant
Unfinished
2000 Rules of Engagement William Friedkin With Nicola Pecorini
2001 Town & Country Peter Chelsom Also credited as 2nd unit director (South Carolina)
2002 Waking Up in Reno Jordan Brady

Documentary film

Year Title Director Notes
1975 Fritz Lang Interviewed by William Friedkin William Friedkin
1980 Divine Madness Michael Ritchie Concert film

Television

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Year Title Director Notes
1966-1969 Daktari
1973 Ozzie's Girls Ozzie Nelson Episode "Pilot"
1987 Frank's Place Hugh Wilson Episode "Pilot"

TV movies

Year Title Director
1973 Fade In Jud Taylor[a]
1995 Death in Small Doses Sondra Locke
  1. ^ Credited as Alan Smithee

Director

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Film

Television

Year Title Episode(s)
1988 Houston Knights "Cajun Spice"
J.J. Starbuck "Rag Doll"
1989 Unsub "Silent Stalker"
B.L. Stryker "The Dancer’s Touch"
Wiseguy "Fascination for the Flame"
"The Merchant of Death"
"How Will They Remember Me?"
"The Reunion"
"Day Seven"
"Sanctuary"
1991 The Flash "Tina, Is That You?"
1993 Walker, Texas Ranger "Night of the Gladiator"

Accolades

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Academy Awards

Year Category Title Result
1977 Best Cinematography Looking for Mr. Goodbar Nominated
1978 Heaven Can Wait Nominated
1979 1941 Nominated
Best Visual Effects Nominated
1983 Best Cinematography WarGames Nominated
1985 Murphy's Romance Nominated

BAFTA Awards

Year Category Title Result
1968 Best Cinematography Bullitt Nominated
1983 Best Special Visual Effects WarGames Nominated

National Society of Film Critics

Year Category Title Result
1968 Best Cinematography Bullitt Nominated

American Society of Cinematographers

  • Lifetime Achievement Award (2000)

Camerimage

  • Lifetime Achievement Award (2003)

References

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  1. ^ Notable Alumni Archived August 26, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Accessed March 10, 2008.
  2. ^ Cinematographer William A. Fraker dies The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  3. ^ In Memoriam: William A. Fraker, 86 University of Southern California. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  4. ^ William A. Fraker dies at 86; Hollywood cinematographer Los Angeles Times via Internet Archive. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  5. ^ Colleagues fondly recall William A. Fraker, ASC, BSC whose charisma and skill made him a Society icon. American Society of Cinematographers. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  6. ^ William A Fraker: Celebrated cinematographer who shot Steve McQueen's famous car chase in 'Bullitt' The Independent. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  7. ^ WILLIAM A. FRAKER www.cinematographers.nl. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  8. ^ "William A. Fraker, 1923 – 2010". June 2, 2010.
  9. ^ "The ASC -- American Cinematographer: King of Cool".
  10. ^ "William A. Fraker Biography".
  11. ^ ""Coonskin" cinematographer William A. Fraker dies Archived July 8, 2012, at archive.today". forum.bcdb.com, June 1, 2010
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