Joseph Caleb Deschanel (born September 21, 1944) 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 also 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 (née Orr) and Paul Jules Deschanel. His father was French, from Oullins, Rhône, and his mother was American. Deschanel was raised in his mother's Quaker religion.
He enrolled in Severn School for his high school. He attended Johns Hopkins University from 1962 to 1966, where he met Walter Murch, with whom he staged "happenings," including one in which Murch 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 (AFI) Conservatory and graduated in 1969 as a member of its first class.
Personal life Deschanel graduated from the AFI Conservatory in 1969. In 1972, he married actress Mary Jo Weir. They have two daughters, actresses Emily and Zooey. In 1984, he was invited to join the American Society of Cinematographers (A.S.C.).
Filmography
As director Film The Escape Artist (1982) Crusoe (1988)
Music video Rhythm of My Heart (1991) for Rod Stewart
Television Year Title Episode(s)1990-91Twin Peaks "Realization Time" "Drive with a Dead Girl" "The Black Widow"2005Law & Order: Trial by Jury "41 Shots" "Bang & Blame" "Day"2006Conviction "Savasana" "Madness"2007Bones "The Glowing Bones in the Old Stone House"
As cinematographer Year Title Director Notes1979Being ThereHal AshbyMore American GraffitiBill L. Norton The Black StallionCarroll Ballard1982Let's Spend the Night TogetherHal Ashby1983The Right StuffPhilip Kaufman1984The NaturalBarry Levinson1985The Slugger's WifeHal Ashby 1994It Could Happen to YouAndrew Bergman 1996Fly Away HomeCarroll Ballard1998Hope FloatsForest Whitaker1999Anna and the KingAndy TennantMessage in a BottleLuis Mandoki2000The PatriotRoland Emmerich2003The HuntedWilliam FriedkinTimelineRichard Donner2004National TreasureJon TurteltaubThe Passion of the ChristMel Gibson2006Ask the DustRobert Towne 2008KillshotJohn Madden The Spiderwick ChroniclesMark Waters 2009My Sister's KeeperNick Cassavetes 2011Dream HouseJim Sheridan Killer JoeWilliam Friedkin 2012Abraham Lincoln: Vampire HunterTimur Bekmambetov Jack ReacherChristopher McQuarrie 2014Winter's TaleAkiva Goldsman 2016Rules Don't ApplyWarren Beatty 2017UnforgettableDenise Di Novi 2018Never Look AwayFlorian Henckel von Donnersmarck2019The Lion KingJon Favreau2026WildwoodTravis Knight
Other credits + Year Title Director Cinematographer(s)Contribution Notes1971Angels Hard as They ComeJoe ViolaStephen M. KatzAdditional photographyTHX 1138George LucasDavid MyersAlbert KihnUncredited1972The GodfatherFrancis Ford CoppolaGordon WillisDirector of photography: Newspaper sequence1974A Woman Under the InfluenceJohn CassavetesMitch BreitAl RubanAdditional photography1979Apocalypse NowFrancis Ford CoppolaVittorio StoraroDirector of photography: Inserts1983The Black Stallion ReturnsRobert DalvaCarlo Di PalmaAdditional photography1997TitanicJames CameronRussell CarpenterDirector of photography: Halifax contemporary sequences2013Gangster SquadRuben FleischerDion BeebeAdditional photography2019Ad AstraJames GrayHoyte van Hoytema
Awards and nominations Institution Year Category Work ResultAcademy Awards 1983Best Cinematography The Right Stuff 1984 The Natural 1996 Fly Away Home 2000 The Patriot 2004 The Passion of the Christ 2018 Never Look Away American Society of Cinematographers1996Outstanding Achievement in CinematographyFly Away Home2000The Patriot 2004The Passion of the Christ Berlin International Film Festival1976Best Short FilmTrainsBritish Academy Film Awards 1979 Best Cinematography The Black Stallion British Society of Cinematographers1980Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature FilmCamerimage Festival2014Lifetime Achievement Award2019Golden FrogNever Look AwayHawaiʻi International Film Festival2001Excellence in Cinematography AwardHollywood Film Awards2004Cinematographer of the YearThe Passion of the ChristLos Angeles Film Critics Association1979Best CinematographyThe Black StallionNational Board of Review2004Career Achievement AwardNational Society of Film Critics1979Best CinematographyBeing There The Black Stallion Satellite Awards1999Best CinematographyAnna and the King Visual Effects Society2020Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a CG ProjectThe Lion King
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