April 4, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

‘In The Heat Of The Night,’ ‘Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf’ Cinematographer Haskell Wexler Dies

Cinematographer Haskell Wexler arrives at the Clarity Theater for the 9th annual Beverly Hills Film Festival opening night gala in 2009  (Thinkstock: Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images).
Cinematographer Haskell Wexler arrives at the Clarity Theater for the 9th annual Beverly Hills Film Festival opening night gala in 2009 (Thinkstock: Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images).

Legendary cinematographer Haskell Wexler, who photographed some of the most acclaimed films of his era won two Oscars for his work behind the camera, died today at the age of 93, according to his son.

Wexler died in his sleep at Santa Monica’s Providence Saint John Health Center, his son Jeff Wexler told the Hollywood Reporter.

“It is with great sadness that I have to report that my father, Haskell Wexler, has died,” Jeff Wexler wrote on his website. “Pop died peacefully in his sleep, Sunday, December 27th, 2015. Accepting the Academy Award in 1967, pop said: ‘I hope we can use our art for peace and for love.’ An amazing life has ended but his commitment to fight the good fight, for peace, for all humanity, will carry on.”

Haskell Wexler won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for 1966’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” and again for 1976’s “Bound For Glory.” He was also the cinematographer on 1975’s Best Picture winner “One Flew Over the Cuckoo Nest”  and 1967’s winner, “In the Heat of the Night.”

In addition to his prolific career as a cinematographer, Wexler will be remembered for writing, producing and directing 1969’s “Medium Cool,” a drama starring Robert Forster as a cameraman who gets involved with a woman and her son. The film was shot in a documentary style and used real footage shot by Wexler of the riots at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago that summer. It earned a cult following and is considered way ahead of its time in the way it mixed fact and fiction.

Wexler was born in 1922 in Chicago. He attended UC Berkeley, then made documentary and educational films in Chicago for 10 years before coming to Hollywood.

In his later years Wexler working mostly in documentaries, many with political themes.

He is survived by sons Jeff and Mark Wexler, who both work in films, and third wife Rita Taggart, an actress and cinematographer.

Related Posts

WeHo Pride Will Begin with Harvey Milk Day Celebration and José Sarria Drag Pageant

April 4, 2025

April 4, 2025

West Hollywood to Honor LGBTQ+ Icons at Pride Kickoff Event The City of West Hollywood will kick off its WeHo...

Suspect Arrested and Charged in March 27 Hit-and-Run Death

April 4, 2025

April 4, 2025

The Victim Was on the Way to His Job at the Beverly Hills Hotel  A 20-year-old man has been arrested...

LAPD to Conduct DUI Checkpoints and Saturation Patrols Across L.A. This Weekend

April 4, 2025

April 4, 2025

Checkpoints and Saturation Patrols Target High-Risk Areas, Come With High Penalties The Los Angeles Police Department will conduct a series...

(Video) Adorn Your Home With Plants and Pottery from Urban Jungle

April 4, 2025

April 4, 2025

Go To Urbanjungleplantsandpottery.com For More Info Go To https://t.co/feBSQqsNTn For More Info pic.twitter.com/1TVjkCYdmv — CCNewsLA (@CCWNNews) April 4, 2025

Join UCLA’s Innovative Memory Research Study!

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Are you ready to contribute to groundbreaking research and help shape the future of memory treatments? Do you sometimes find...

Coming Soon: Easter Extravaganza at Regent Santa Monica Beach

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Book your Delectable Brunch, Easter Festivities This Easter, step into a world of celebration and refined delight at Regent Santa Monica Beach....

Scoop Dreams Come True: Van Leeuwen Launches New Beverly Hills Shop

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Van Leeuwen’s Beverly Hills Opening Comes With Sweet Perks Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, a New York City-born brand celebrated for...

WeHo’s WeHappy Wednesdays Serve Up Big Discounts In Addition to Zero Parking Fees

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Free Parking and $5 Cocktails? WeHo Makes Wednesdays Worth It The City of West Hollywood and the West Hollywood Chamber...

Saijo Hand Roll Rolls into Culver City with Premium Japanese Ingredients

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Binchotan-Fired Perfection: Saijo Rolls Out Premium Sushi in West LA A new destination for hand rolls and Japanese culinary craftsmanship...

(Video) Check Out Bernie’s, a New Pop Up at Citizen Public Market in Culver City

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Made with fresh frozen fruit and a toasted merengue topping these flavors are irresistible. The pop up will be at...

From Cocktails to Coffee: U.S. Tariffs Threaten Imports, Jobs, and Your Grocery Bill

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Major Price Hikes Expected for Coffee, Wine, Chocolate, and Butter  A sweeping new set of tariffs announced by former President...

Levain Bakery to Open Venice Location with Special Guests and Charitable Twist

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Bigger Than a Cookie: Levain’s Venice Opening Is a Flavorful Fundraiser Levain Bakery, the cult-favorite cookie destination founded in New...

LAX Airport Server Finds Hate-Filled Message From Unidentified Diners

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Waiter Says He Was Stunned by the Message Left by Customers Guillermo Ortiz, who works at Planet Hollywood inside the...

Sunset Strip Staple Le Petit Four Shuts Down After Landlord Pulls the Plug

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

End of an Era: Le Petit Four Forced to Close in West Hollywood In a stunning reversal to the upbeat...

Metro LA Pushes Back Sepulveda Transit Community Meetings

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Environmental Review Delay Prompts Metro to Reschedule  Metro announced that community meetings scheduled for early April to discuss the Sepulveda...