William A. Fraker

{{short description|American film director, producer and cinematographer}}

{{Infobox person

|name = William A. Fraker

|image =

|alt =

|caption =

|birth_name = William Ashman Fraker

|birth_date = September 29, 1923

|birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

|death_date = May 31, 2010 (aged 86)

|death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

|alma_mater = USC School of Cinematic Arts[http://cinema.usc.edu/alumni/alumni-history/ Notable Alumni] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826034853/http://cinema.usc.edu/alumni/alumni-history/ |date=August 26, 2009 }}, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Accessed March 10, 2008.

|years_active = 1956–2002

|predecessor = |successor =

|boards = A.S.C. (President 1979–1980, 1984, 1991–1992)

|spouse =Denise

|partner =

|children =

|parents =

|relations =

}}

William Ashman Fraker, A.S.C., B.S.C. (September 29, 1923 – May 31, 2010) was an American cinematographer and film director.

Life and career

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[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/cinematographer-william-fraker-dies-24179/ Cinematographer William A. Fraker dies] The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 23, 2022.[https://news.usc.edu/30093/In-Memoriam-William-A-Fraker-86/ In Memoriam: William A. Fraker, 86] University of Southern California. Retrieved February 23, 2022.[https://web.archive.org/web/20210308143109/https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-william-fraker-20100602-story.html William A. Fraker dies at 86; Hollywood cinematographer] Los Angeles Times via Internet Archive. Retrieved February 23, 2022. or the U.S. Coast Guard[https://theasc.com/ac_magazine/November2010/WilliamAFraker/page1.html 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.[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/william-a-fraker-celebrated-cinematographer-who-shot-steve-mcqueen-s-famous-car-chase-in-bullitt-2036771.html William A Fraker: Celebrated cinematographer who shot Steve McQueen's famous car chase in 'Bullitt'] The Independent. Retrieved February 23, 2022.[http://www.cinematographers.nl/PaginasDoPh/fraker.htm WILLIAM A. FRAKER] www.cinematographers.nl. Retrieved February 23, 2022. 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.{{Cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/2010/06/william-a-fraker-1923-2010.html|title = William A. Fraker, 1923 – 2010|date = June 2, 2010}}{{Cite web|url=https://theasc.com/ac_magazine/November2010/WilliamAFraker/page1.html|title=The ASC -- American Cinematographer: King of Cool}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/9/William-A-Fraker.html|title=William A. Fraker Biography}}

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|date=February 2022}}

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|date=February 2022}}

Death

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."[http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Coonskin_cinematographer_William_A_Fraker_dies_P108760/ "Coonskin" cinematographer William A. Fraker dies] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120708070253/http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Coonskin_cinematographer_William_A_Fraker_dies_P108760/# |date=July 8, 2012 }}". forum.bcdb.com, June 1, 2010

Filmography

=Cinematographer=

==Film==

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Director ! Notes
1961 \| Forbid Them Not \| Robert L. Kimble \| Also credited as producer
1966 \| Incubus \| Leslie Stevens \| Uncredited
rowspan=3\|1967 \| Games \| Curtis Harrington \|
The Fox \| Mark Rydell \|
The President's Analyst \| Theodore J. Flicker \|
rowspan=2\|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 \|
rowspan=3\|1975 \| Coonskin \| Ralph Bakshi \|
Rancho Deluxe \| Frank Perry \|
Aloha, Bobby and Rose \| Floyd Mutrux \|
rowspan=2\|1976 \| Gator \| Burt Reynolds \|
The Killer Inside Me \| Burt Kennedy \|
rowspan=2\|1977 \| Exorcist II: The Heretic \| John Boorman \|
Looking for Mr. Goodbar \| Richard Brooks \|
rowspan=2\|1978 \| American Hot Wax \| Floyd Mutrux \|
Heaven Can Wait \| Warren Beatty Buck Henry \|
rowspan=2\|1979 \| Old Boyfriends \| Joan Tewkesbury \|
1941 \| Steven Spielberg \|
1980 \| The Hollywood Knights \| Floyd Mutrux \|
1981 \| Sharky's Machine \| Burt Reynolds \|
rowspan=2\|1982 \| The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas \| Colin Higgins \|
Hey Good Lookin' \| Ralph Bakshi \| Uncredited
1983 \| WarGames \| John Badham \|
rowspan=2\|1984 \| Irreconcilable Differences \| Charles Shyer \| Also cast as 'Gabrielle' Cinematographer
Protocol \| Herbert Ross \|
rowspan=2\|1985 \| Fever Pitch \| Richard Brooks \|
Murphy's Romance \| Martin Ritt \|
1986 \| SpaceCamp \| Harry Winer \|
rowspan=2\|1987 \| Burglar \| Hugh Wilson \|
Baby Boom \| Charles Shyer \|
rowspan=2\|1989 \| Chances Are \| Emile Ardolino \|
An Innocent Man \| Peter Yates \|
1990 \| The Freshman \| Andrew Bergman \|
rowspan=2\|1992 \| Memoirs of an Invisible Man \| John Carpenter \|
Honeymoon in Vegas \| Andrew Bergman \|
1993 \| Tombstone \| George P. Cosmatos \| Also credited as associate producer
rowspan=2\|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 \|
rowspan=2\|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 \|

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Director

! Notes

1961

| Forbid Them Not

| Robert L. Kimble

| Also credited as producer

1966

| Incubus

| Leslie Stevens

| Uncredited

rowspan=3|1967

| Games

| Curtis Harrington

The Fox

| Mark Rydell

The President's Analyst

| Theodore J. Flicker

rowspan=2|1968

| Rosemary's Baby

Bullitt

1969

1971

| Dusty and Sweets McGee

| Floyd Mutrux

| Also cast as "The Cellist"

1973

| The Day of the Dolphin

| Mike Nichols

rowspan=3|1975

| Coonskin

| Ralph Bakshi

Rancho Deluxe

| Frank Perry

Aloha, Bobby and Rose

| Floyd Mutrux

rowspan=2|1976

| Gator

| Burt Reynolds

The Killer Inside Me

| Burt Kennedy

rowspan=2|1977

| Exorcist II: The Heretic

| John Boorman

Looking for Mr. Goodbar

| Richard Brooks

rowspan=2|1978

| American Hot Wax

| Floyd Mutrux

Heaven Can Wait

| Warren Beatty
Buck Henry

rowspan=2|1979

| Old Boyfriends

| Joan Tewkesbury

1941

| Steven Spielberg

1980

| The Hollywood Knights

| Floyd Mutrux

1981

| Sharky's Machine

| Burt Reynolds

rowspan=2|1982

| The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

| Colin Higgins

Hey Good Lookin'

| Ralph Bakshi

| Uncredited

1983

| WarGames

| John Badham

rowspan=2|1984

| Irreconcilable Differences

| Charles Shyer

| Also cast as 'Gabrielle' Cinematographer

Protocol

| Herbert Ross

rowspan=2|1985

| Fever Pitch

| Richard Brooks

Murphy's Romance

| Martin Ritt

1986

| SpaceCamp

| Harry Winer

rowspan=2|1987

| Burglar

| Hugh Wilson

Baby Boom

| Charles Shyer

rowspan=2|1989

| Chances Are

| Emile Ardolino

An Innocent Man

| Peter Yates

1990

| The Freshman

| Andrew Bergman

rowspan=2|1992

| Memoirs of an Invisible Man

| John Carpenter

Honeymoon in Vegas

| Andrew Bergman

1993

| Tombstone

| George P. Cosmatos

| Also credited as associate producer

rowspan=2|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

rowspan=2|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

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Director ! Notes
1975 \| Fritz Lang Interviewed by William Friedkin \| William Friedkin \|
1980 \| Divine Madness \| Michael Ritchie \| Concert film

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Director

! Notes

1975

| Fritz Lang Interviewed by William Friedkin

| William Friedkin

1980

| Divine Madness

| Michael Ritchie

| Concert film

==Television==

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Director ! Notes
1966-1969 \| Daktari \| \|
1973 \| Ozzie's Girls \| Ozzie Nelson \| Episode "Pilot"
1987 \| Frank's Place \| Hugh Wilson \| Episode "Pilot"

class="wikitable"

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

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Director
1973 \| Fade In \| Jud Taylor{{efn\|Credited as Alan Smithee}}
1995 \| Death in Small Doses \| Sondra Locke

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Director

1973

| Fade In

| Jud Taylor{{efn|Credited as Alan Smithee}}

1995

| Death in Small Doses

| Sondra Locke

=Director=

Film

Television

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Episode(s)
rowspan=2\|1988 \| Houston Knights \| "Cajun Spice"
J.J. Starbuck \| "Rag Doll"
rowspan=8\|1989 \| Unsub \| "Silent Stalker"
B.L. Stryker \| "The Dancer’s Touch"
rowspan=6\|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"

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Episode(s)

rowspan=2|1988

| Houston Knights

| "Cajun Spice"

J.J. Starbuck

| "Rag Doll"

rowspan=8|1989

| Unsub

| "Silent Stalker"

B.L. Stryker

| "The Dancer’s Touch"

rowspan=6|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

Academy Awards

class="wikitable"
Year ! Category ! Title ! Result
1977 \|rowspan=3\|Best Cinematography \| Looking for Mr. Goodbar \| {{nom}}
1978 \| Heaven Can Wait \| {{nom}}
rowspan=2\|1979 \|rowspan=2\|1941 \| {{nom}}
Best Visual Effects \| {{nom}}
1983 \|rowspan=2\|Best Cinematography \| WarGames \| {{nom}}
1985 \| Murphy's Romance \| {{nom}}

class="wikitable"

Year

! Category

! Title

! Result

1977

|rowspan=3|Best Cinematography

| Looking for Mr. Goodbar

| {{nom}}

1978

| Heaven Can Wait

| {{nom}}

rowspan=2|1979

|rowspan=2|1941

| {{nom}}

Best Visual Effects

| {{nom}}

1983

|rowspan=2|Best Cinematography

| WarGames

| {{nom}}

1985

| Murphy's Romance

| {{nom}}

BAFTA Awards

class="wikitable"
Year ! Category ! Title ! Result
1968 \| Best Cinematography \| Bullitt \| {{nom}}
1983 \| Best Special Visual Effects \| WarGames \| {{nom}}

class="wikitable"

Year

! Category

! Title

! Result

1968

| Best Cinematography

| Bullitt

| {{nom}}

1983

| Best Special Visual Effects

| WarGames