Caleb Deschanel
Biography
Caleb Deschanel, also known as Joseph Caleb Deschanel, is an American film cinematographer and film and television director. Born on September 21, 1944, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he has received six Academy Award nominations for cinematography. These nominations occurred in 1983 for The Right Stuff, 1984 for The Natural, 1996 for Fly Away Home, 2000 for The Patriot, 2004 for The Passion of the Christ, and 2018 for Never Look Away. He has sixty-seven known credits. Deschanel is the father of actresses Zooey Deschanel and Emily Deschanel.
Career overview
Caleb Deschanel, also known as Joseph Caleb Deschanel, is an American film cinematographer and director for film and television. Born on September 21, 1944, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he has accumulated 67 known credits.
Deschanel has received six Academy Award nominations for his work in cinematography. His first nomination occurred in 1983 for The Right Stuff, followed by a second nomination in 1984 for The Natural. He earned a third nomination in 1996 for Fly Away Home and a fourth in 2000 for The Patriot. His fifth nomination was for The Passion of the Christ in 2004, and his sixth nomination was for Never Look Away in 2018.
Outside of his professional career, he is the father of actresses Zooey Deschanel and Emily Deschanel.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
68 titles- Wildwood (2026) Director of Photography
- The Lion King (2019) Director of Photography
- Ad Astra (2019) Additional Photography
- Hal (2019) as Self
- Never Look Away (2018) Director of Photography
- Unforgettable (2017) Director of Photography
- Rules Don't Apply (2016) Director of Photography
- The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years (2016) Director of Photography
- Close Encounters with Vilmos Zsigmond (2016) as Self
- The Natural: The Best There Ever Was (2016) as Self
- Winter's Tale (2014) Director of Photography
- Gangster Squad (2013) Additional Photography
- Jack Reacher (2012) Director of Photography
- Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) Director of Photography
- Killer Joe (2012) Director of Photography
- Casablanca: An Unlikely Classic (2012) as Self
- Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You Never Heard Of (2012) as Self
- These Amazing Shadows (2011) as Self
- Dream House (2011) Director of Photography
- My Sister's Keeper (2009) Director of Photography
- The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) Director of Photography
- Killshot (2008) Director of Photography
- Fog City Mavericks (2007) as Self
- The Visions of Stanley Kubrick (2007) as Self
- Secrets from Another Place: Creating Twin Peaks (2007) as Self
- View from the Overlook: Crafting 'The Shining' (2007) as Self
- Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001 (2007) as Self
- Conviction (2006) Director
- Ask the Dust (2006) Director of Photography
- Shadows of Suspense (2006) as Self
- Cinematographer Style (2006) as Self
- Bones (2005) Director
- Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005) Director
- Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema (2005) as Self
- The Passion of the Christ (2004) Director of Photography
- National Treasure (2004) Director of Photography
- A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of American Zoetrope (2004) as Self
- Artifact from the Future: The Making of 'THX 1138' (2004) as Self
- Timeline (2003) Director of Photography
- The Hunted (2003) Director of Photography
- The Patriot (2000) Director of Photography
- Message in a Bottle (1999) Director of Photography
- Anna and the King (1999) Director of Photography
- Hope Floats (1998) Director of Photography
- Titanic (1997) Additional Photography
- Fly Away Home (1996) Director of Photography
- It Could Happen to You (1994) Director of Photography
- Visions of Light (1992) as Self
- Twin Peaks (1990) Director
- Crusoe (1989) Director
- The Slugger's Wife (1985) Director of Photography
- The Natural (1984) Director of Photography
- The Right Stuff (1983) Director of Photography
- The Black Stallion Returns (1983) Additional Photography
- The Escape Artist (1982) Director
- Let's Spend the Night Together (1982) Director of Photography
- Apocalypse Now (1979) Additional Director of Photography
- The Black Stallion (1979) Director of Photography
- Being There (1979) Director of Photography
- More American Graffiti (1979) Director of Photography
- Trains (1976) Director
- Trains (1976) Writer
- A Woman Under the Influence (1974) Additional Photography
- The Hello Machine (1974) Cinematography
- The Godfather (1972) Additional Camera
- THX 1138 (1971) Thanks
- Rodeo (1969) Director of Photography
- Lanton Mills (1969) Director of Photography
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Caleb Deschanel best known for?
Caleb Deschanel is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Wildwood (2026), The Lion King (2019), Ad Astra (2019), Never Look Away (2018).
When and where was Caleb Deschanel born?
Caleb Deschanel was born on September 21, 1944 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
How many credits does Caleb Deschanel have?
Caleb Deschanel has accumulated over 68 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1969 to 2026.
What is Caleb Deschanel's background in cinema and television?
Caleb Deschanel, also known as Joseph Caleb Deschanel, is an American film cinematographer and film and television director. Born on September 21, 1944, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he has received six Academy Award nominations for cinematography. These nominations occurred in 1983 for The Right Stuff, 1984 for The N...
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