Joseph Caleb Deschanel, ASC (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 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.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 U.S.-born. Deschanel was raised in his mother's Quaker
religion.He enrolled[when?] in Severn School for his high school
years. He attended Johns Hopkins University from 1962 to 1966, where
he met Walter Murch, with whom he staged "happenings," including one
in which Murch simply 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.Deschanel joined
the American Society of Cinematographers, or A.S.C., in 1969, the year
of his graduation from the AFI Conservatory. In 1972, three years
later, he married the former Mary Jo Weir. The older of their two
daughters, Emily, was born in 1976; their younger daughter, Zooey, was
born in 1980.
cinematographer and director of film and television. He has been
nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography six times. He
is 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.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 U.S.-born. Deschanel was raised in his mother's Quaker
religion.He enrolled[when?] in Severn School for his high school
years. He attended Johns Hopkins University from 1962 to 1966, where
he met Walter Murch, with whom he staged "happenings," including one
in which Murch simply 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.Deschanel joined
the American Society of Cinematographers, or A.S.C., in 1969, the year
of his graduation from the AFI Conservatory. In 1972, three years
later, he married the former Mary Jo Weir. The older of their two
daughters, Emily, was born in 1976; their younger daughter, Zooey, was
born in 1980.
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