An elder statesman of cinematography traditionally trained in the old style of the Hollywood cameraman, William A Fraker successfully bridged the gap to the newer freedoms and technological innovations of modern cinema, all the while actively campaigning to enhance the status of the director of photography within the industry power structure. His maternal grandmother, father and uncle had all worked as still photographers within the studio system, and he resolved at an early age to be a cameraman. After attending the University of Southern California's film school on the GI Bill and finding
Raised by grandmother and aunt after his mother and father died; they told him he was going to be a cameraman, so from the time he was 14, he knew what he wanted to be
Served in the Coast Guard during World War II, returning home in 1946
Found himself shut out of The Camera Guild after graduating from USC in 1950; worked as an editor at various television production companies; mustered non-union camera jobs by shooting inserts and stock footage on the fly
1954
Got start in television, beginning as a loader on the ABC series "The Lone Ranger"
Spent seven-and-a-half years working on "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" (ABC); credits director-star Ozzie Nelson with helping him rise from second assistant director to camera operator during this time
