Celebrity Biographies
William A Fraker
William A. Fraker, one of the great cinematographers of recent decades, passed away in Los Angeles on May 31, as a result of cancer, on May 31, 2010. He was 86 years old.
It is true that only hardcore moviegoers will remember his name, but the general public will remember many of his images that have gone down in cinema history, such as the car chase in Bullit , or the harrowing drama of Mia Farrow , in Rosemary’s Baby . . He has worked with Roman Polanski , John Boorman , Richard Brooks , Steven Spielberg , and John Carpenter .
Born on September 29, 1923, in Los Angeles (California), William A. Fraker was the son of William Fraker, Jr., a technician who worked in the world of cinema, in the photography department, on films like Lady for a Day . by Frank Capra . His maternal grandmother and his uncle also worked as technicians.
From a very young age, it was very clear to him that he wanted to be a cameraman, so after serving in the Coast Guard during World War II, he studied cinematography at USC (University of Southern California). One of his colleagues was Conrad L. Hall , who would later become the cinematographer for titles like Hell in the Pacific , and who would be one of his great friends. Fraker started out as Hall’s assistant, also shooting commercials and series like The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet .
He debuted as a cinematographer with Forbid Them Not , from 1961, although he would begin to stand out at the end of the decade, with titles that would make him one of the greats. Particularly noteworthy is his work in Bullit , where he mounted cameras inside and on top of the vehicles for the infamous chase scene through the steep streets of San Francisco. He also shined especially in Rosemary’s Baby , by Roman Polanski.
For Looking for Mr. Goodbar , William A. Fraker received his first Oscar nomination. He never won the statuette, but he did get five more nominations for his work in Heaven Can Wait , 1941 (for photography and visual effects), War Games and Murphy’s Romance . He also worked in movies like Exorcist II. The Heretic , The Legend of the Nameless City, or Rules of Engagement .
Although he was not a great innovator like other of his peers, but had a very classic style, William A. Fraker always filmed very fresh images, representative of the new style of American cinema. He was one of the most prestigious operators among his peers and Hollywood directors.