Zooey Deschanel unsurprisingly wishes her dad a happy birthday on social media. However, what many people may find interesting is that Deschanel’s father filmed some of Gen X’s favorite movies.
A generation worthy of movies
On her father’s 78th birthday, Deschanel did what most kids today do for their parents: she wished him a happy birthday on Instagram. The actress wrote, “Happy birthday to my amazing dad! I may be biased, but I think this is the best. (And yes, he’s the one looking cool as ever on horse). ”
Looking debonair atop a horse in cowboy gear, you might not recognize the award-winning cinematographer. Nonetheless, Deschanel’s father, Caleb Deschanel, shot many well-known films from the late 1970s through 2019.
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Caleb began his film career with two films that gained him attention as a cinematographer. In 1979, he won the National Society of Film Critics Awards for Best Cinematography for both black stallion and Be there. He went on to film other hits including The good thing, Natural, It could happen to you, The Patriotand even those of 2019 The Lion King. The filmmaker has also directed a few episodes of famous TV shows. His directorial career includes credits fortwin peaks, Law and Order: Trial by Juryand Bones.
It runs in the family
From acting to directing and filming, creating great films comes naturally to the Deschanel family. Although Caleb is the only one behind the camera, Zooey’s mother and sister both play big-screen roles. In fact, the axiom “like mother like daughter” is more than apt for the Deschanels. Zooey’s mother, Mary Jo Deschanel, and sister, Emily Deschanel, are actresses in their own right.
However, it is Deschanel’s father who is now in the spotlight thanks to his daughter’s birthday wishes. The filmmaker is loved by fans around the world, which was evident in the comments on social media. Many devotees flocked to the birthday post to share their love and admiration for the cinematographer.
As one fan wrote, “One of the best in the business! Happy Birthday Mr. Caleb! Another fan perfectly summed up what many admiring filmmakers think of him and his work: “I don’t understand why he’s not celebrated as one of the best cinematographers of all time…and he is so humble about it. What a cool guy. From filming critically acclaimed movies to suavely sitting on a horse, Caleb Deschanel is seriously cool.
