Jacques Haitkin obit

Jacques Haitkin, Cinematographer on ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ Movies, Dies at 72

He also did second-unit work on 'Cherry 2000,' 'Last Man Standing,' 'X-Men: First Class,' 'Black Panther' and three Fast & Furious films. 

He was not on the list.

Jacques Haitkin, who served as the cinematographer on the first two Nightmare on Elm Street movies, has died. He was 72.

Haitkin died March 21 in San Francisco after a battle with ALS and leukemia, his son Zak Haitkin told The Hollywood Reporter. “He always said he never worked a day in his life because he loved his job so much,” he noted.

Haitkin also manned a camera and/or did second-unit work on three Fast & Furious films, two Captain America movies and other action features including Cherry 2000 (1987), Last Man Standing (1995), The Expendables (2010), X-Men: First Class (2011), Kong: Skull Island (2017), Black Panther (2018), Venom (2018) and 21 Bridges (2019).

Haitkin was the D.P. on A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), directed by Wes Craven, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985), directed by Jack Sholder. He reunited with Craven on Shocker (1989) and with Sholder on The Hidden (1987) and Beeper (2002).

Jacques Adam Haitkin was born in Brooklyn on Aug. 29, 1950. His father owned a chain of dry cleaners.

At NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, he shot the 22-minute film Hot Dogs for Gauguin (1972). Directed by Martin Brest and starring Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman, it got him a fellowship from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles.

He was a gaffer on The Billion Dollar Hobo (1977) and the cinematographer on They Went That-a-Way & That-a-Way (1978), The Prize Fighter (1978) and The Private Eyes (1980), all four films starring Tim Conway.

His D.P. résumé included Galaxy of Terror (1981), The House Where Evil Dwells (1982), Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence (1992), Ticks (1993), The Silence of the Hams (1994), Bloodsport 2 (1996), The Big Squeeze (1996) and Forgotten (2022).

He was diagnosed with ALS in 2017.

In addition to sons Zak and Harry, survivors include his niece Meri Haitkin, a producer on Top Chef, Project Runway and other shows. His wife, Anne Coffey, a first assistant camera operator (and his assistant on Galaxy of Terror), died in 2013 of colon cancer at age 59.

A celebration of life will take place at 5 p.m. on May 14 at The Firehouse at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. Please reach out at zhaitkin@gmail.com with questions.

Cinematographer

Tom Sizemore and Jillian Murray in Forgotten (2022)

Forgotten

4.5

Cinematographer

2022

 

Visible Scars (2012)

Visible Scars

3.3

Cinematographer

2012

 

The Lost (2009)

The Lost

5.8

TV Movie

Cinematographer

2009

 

Stevie (2008)

Stevie

4.9

TV Movie

Cinematographer

2008

 

Reflections (2008)

Reflections

4.7

director of photography

2008

 

Unnatural Causes (2008)

Unnatural Causes

4.2

Cinematographer

2008

 

Hidden Camera (2007)

Hidden Camera

4.5

TV Movie

Cinematographer

2007

 

Tobin Bell, Cody Linley, Emily Osment, Brittany Curran, Katelyn Pippy, and Colleen Dengel in The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It (2007)

The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It

5.7

Video

director of photography

2007

 

The Deal (2007)

The Deal

4.5

Cinematographer

2007

 

Crusader (2005)

Crusader

4.4

TV Movie

Cinematographer

2005

 

The Curse of El Charro (2005)

The Curse of El Charro

3.0

Cinematographer

2005

 

12 Days of Terror (2004)

12 Days of Terror

5.5

TV Movie

director of photography

2004

 

William Baldwin and Ellen Pompeo in Art Heist (2004)

Art Heist

4.3

director of photography

2004

 

Shut Up and Kiss Me! (2004)

Shut Up and Kiss Me!

4.3

Cinematographer

2004

 

Ricky Schroder and Eric Balfour in Face of Terror (2004)

Face of Terror

4.3

Cinematographer

2004

 

Joel West, Daniel Bernhardt, and Rolanda Marais in Global Effect (2002)

Global Effect

3.6

Cinematographer

2002

 

While You Were Waiting

5.8

Short

Cinematographer

2002

 

Bai Ling, Adrian Paul, and Nick Cornish in Storm Watch (2002)

Storm Watch

4.7

Cinematographer

2002

 

Adjustments

6.3

Short

Cinematographer

2001

 

Mark Dacascos, Missy Crider, and Kadeem Hardison in Instinct to Kill (2001)

Instinct to Kill

4.7

Cinematographer

2001

 

Bad Karma (2001)

Bad Karma

3.3

Cinematographer

2001

 

A Month of Sundays (2001)

A Month of Sundays

6.2

Cinematographer

2001

 

Layover (2001)

Layover

4.8

Cinematographer

2001

 

The Elite (2001)

The Elite

3.6

Cinematographer

2001

 

Andrea Thompson, Terry Nemeroff, and Chris Potter in Rockets' Red Glare (2000)

Rockets' Red Glare

7.9

Cinematographer

2000

 

Mark Frost in Faust (2000)

Faust

4.4

Cinematographer

2000

 

Leila Arcieri, Jaime Bergman, Roland Kickinger, Kimberly Oja, and Timothy Stack in Son of the Beach (2000)

Son of the Beach

6.9

TV Series

director of photography

2000

3 episodes

 

James Remar and Mario Van Peebles in Blowback (2000)

Blowback

4.6

Cinematographer

2000

 

The Chaos Factor (2000)

The Chaos Factor

4.6

Cinematographer

2000

 

The Apartment Complex (1999)

The Apartment Complex

5.3

TV Movie

Cinematographer

1999

 

C. Thomas Howell, Anthony Crivello, and John Kassir in The Glass Jar (1999)

The Glass Jar

5.8

Cinematographer

1999

 

Mark Dacascos in The Base (1999)

The Base

4.6

Video

Cinematographer

1999

 

The Last Man on Planet Earth (1999)

The Last Man on Planet Earth

4.4

TV Movie

Cinematographer

1999

 

Inferno (1998)

Inferno

4.3

TV Movie

director of photography

1998

 

Assignment Berlin (1998)

Assignment Berlin

4.2

Cinematographer

1998

 

Duane Davis, Brixton Karnes, Christine Steel, Kathy Trageser, and Nick Wechsler in Team Knight Rider (1997)

Team Knight Rider

4.5

TV Series

Cinematographer

1997–1998

14 episodes

 

Wishmaster (1997)

Wishmaster

5.8

director of photography

1997

 

Buried Alive II (1997)

Buried Alive II

5.3

TV Movie

Cinematographer

1997

 

The Big Squeeze (1996)

The Big Squeeze

5.0

Cinematographer

1996

 

One Good Turn (1996)

One Good Turn

5.2

Cinematographer

1996

 

Bloodsport 2 (1996)

Bloodsport 2

4.8

Cinematographer

1996

 

Rattled (1996)

Rattled

4.3

TV Movie

Cinematographer

1996

 

Two-Bits & Pepper (1995)

Two-Bits & Pepper

4.0

Cinematographer

1995

 

Fist of the North Star (1995)

Fist of the North Star

3.9

director of photography

1995

 

Cassidy Rae and Ethan Embry in Evolver (1995)

Evolver

5.5

Cinematographer

1995

 

The Force (1994)

The Force

4.6

Video

Cinematographer

1994

 

Daniel Quinn in Scanner Cop (1994)

Scanner Cop

5.4

Video

Cinematographer

1994

 

The Silence of the Hams (1994)

The Silence of the Hams

4.6

Cinematographer

1994

 

Relentless 3 (1993)

Relentless 3

5.1

Video

Cinematographer

1993

 

Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence (1992)

Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence

5.0

Cinematographer

1992

 

Mom and Dad Save the World (1992)

Mom and Dad Save the World

5.3

Cinematographer

1992

 

Fran Drescher, Dennis Farina, and Leo Rossi in We're Talkin' Serious Money (1992)

We're Talkin' Serious Money

5.3

Cinematographer

1992

 

Strays (1991)

Strays

4.7

TV Movie

director of photography

1991

 

Corey Haim in Fast Getaway (1991)

Fast Getaway

5.3

Video

director of photography

1991

 

James Earl Jones, Eric Roberts, and Janine Turner in The Ambulance (1990)

The Ambulance

5.9

director of photography

1990

 

Tim Matheson in Buried Alive (1990)

Buried Alive

6.4

TV Movie

Cinematographer

1990

 

Mitch Pileggi in Shocker (1989)

Shocker

5.5

director of photography

1989

 

Cage (1989)

Cage

4.9

Cinematographer

1989

 

To Die For (1988)

To Die For

4.6

Cinematographer

1988

 

Donna Dixon in Lucky Stiff (1988)

Lucky Stiff

4.7

director of photography

1988

 

Save the Dog! (1988)

Save the Dog!

7.1

TV Movie

director of photography

1988

 

Cherry 2000 (1987)

Cherry 2000

5.6

director of photography

1987

 

Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Nouri, and Ed O'Ross in The Hidden (1987)

The Hidden

7.0

director of photography

1987

 

Michele Little and Scott Valentine in My Demon Lover (1987)

My Demon Lover

4.6

Cinematographer

1987

 

James Remar in Quiet Cool (1986)

Quiet Cool

5.6

Cinematographer

1986

 

Michael Nouri in The Imagemaker (1986)

The Imagemaker

4.7

Cinematographer

1986

 

Kim Myers and Mark Patton in A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)

A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge

5.4

Cinematographer

1985

 

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

A Nightmare on Elm Street

7.4

Cinematographer

1984

 

The Lost Empire (1984)

The Lost Empire

4.7

director of photography

1984

 

Making the Grade (1984)

Making the Grade

5.6

director of photography

1984

 

Last Plane Out (1983)

Last Plane Out

4.3

Cinematographer

1983

 

Marilyn Chambers, Mary Woronov, Stephen Johnson, Milt Kogan, and Gerald Okamura in Angel of H.E.A.T. (1983)

Angel of H.E.A.T.

4.0

Cinematographer

1983

 

The House Where Evil Dwells (1982)

The House Where Evil Dwells

4.5

Cinematographer

1982

 

Longshot (1981)

Longshot

4.8

director of photography

1981

 

Galaxy of Terror (1981)

Galaxy of Terror

5.0

director of photography

1981

 

St. Helens (1981)

St. Helens

6.1

Cinematographer

1981

 

Overture

Short

Cinematographer

1980

 

The Private Eyes (1980)

The Private Eyes

6.5

Cinematographer

1980

 

The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything (1980)

The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything

6.7

TV Movie

director of photography

1980

 

The Prize Fighter (1979)

The Prize Fighter

5.6

Cinematographer

1979

 

Swap Meet (1979)

Swap Meet

3.9

director of photography

1979

 

Richard Kiel, Tim Conway, Fred Covington, Joe Dorsey, Chuck McCann, Reni Santoni, Sonny Shroyer, and Hank Worden in They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way (1978)

They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way

5.0

Cinematographer

1978

 

The Hitter (1978)

The Hitter

5.5

Cinematographer

1978

 

ABC Afterschool Specials (1972)

ABC Afterschool Specials

7.1

TV Series

director of photography

1978

1 episode

 

Hot Tomorrows

Hot Tomorrows

6.6

Cinematographer

1977

 

The Olympiad (1976)

The Olympiad

TV Mini Series

Cinematographer

1976

1 episode

 

Danny DeVito in Hot Dogs for Gauguin (1972)

Hot Dogs for Gauguin

6.8

Short

Cinematographer

1972

 

Camera and Electrical Department

Chadwick Boseman in 21 Bridges (2019)

21 Bridges

6.6

director of photography: second unit, Philadelphia

2019

 

Venom (2018)

Venom

6.6

camera operator: second unit

director of photography: second unit, San Francisco, plate unit

2018

 

Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Martin Freeman, Michael B. Jordan, Andy Serkis, Chadwick Boseman, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong'o, Daniel Kaluuya, and Letitia Wright in Black Panther (2018)

Black Panther

7.3

camera operator: South Korea

2018

 

Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Ludacris, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, and Nathalie Emmanuel in The Fate of the Furious (2017)

The Fate of the Furious

6.6

director of photography: second unit

2017

 

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

Kong: Skull Island

6.7

director of photography: second unit

2017

 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

5.9

director of photography: second unit

2016

 

Don Cheadle, Robert Downey Jr., Paul Bettany, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen, Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Chadwick Boseman, and Sebastian Stan in Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Captain America: Civil War

7.8

director of photography: action unit

2016

 

Wesley Snipes, Philip Winchester, and Charity Wakefield in The Player (2015)

The Player

6.9

TV Series

director of photography: second unit

2015

 

Furious 7 (2015)

Furious 7

7.1

director of photography: second unit (as Jacques Haitken)

2015

 

Vince Vaughn, Tom Wilkinson, and Dave Franco in Unfinished Business (2015)

Unfinished Business

5.4

director of photography: second unit

2015

 

Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Redford, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, and Sebastian Stan in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

7.7

camera operator: "c" camera, second unit

2014

 

Faysal Ahmed and Barkhad Abdirahman in Captain Phillips (2013)

Captain Phillips

7.8

camera operator: "c" camera, Virginia

2013

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Johnny Knoxville in The Last Stand (2013)

The Last Stand

6.3

camera operator: second unit

director of photography: splinter unit

2013

 

Kevin Bacon, Jason Flemyng, January Jones, Rose Byrne, Nicholas Hoult, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Lucas Till, Jennifer Lawrence, and Zoë Kravitz in X-Men: First Class (2011)

X-Men: First Class

7.7

director of photography: second unit (uncredited)

2011

 

Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster, Dwayne Johnson, Sung Kang, Ludacris, Elsa Pataky, Matt Schulze, Tyrese Gibson, Paul Walker, Tego Calderon, Don Omar, and Gal Gadot in Fast Five (2011)

Fast Five

7.3

camera operator: "a" camera, second unit, Puerto Rico Unit

2011

 

Dolph Lundgren, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Steve Austin, Terry Crews, and Randy Couture in The Expendables (2010)

The Expendables

6.4

director of photography: Brazil

director of photography: action unit

2010

 

Tales from the Lumber Yard: The Making of 'Galaxy of Terror'

7.3

Video

additional photographer

2010

 

Hrithik Roshan and Bárbara Mori in Kites (2010)

Kites

6.0

director of photography: action unit

2010

 

Hilary Swank in Amelia (2009)

Amelia

5.8

director of photography: second unit

2009

 

John C. Reilly, Will Ferrell, Michael Clarke Duncan, Leslie Bibb, and Sacha Baron Cohen in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

6.6

camera operator: race car, second unit

2006

 

Kelly Brook in Survival Island (2005)

Survival Island

4.9

director of photography: second unit

2005

 

Lindsay Lohan and Herbie in Herbie Fully Loaded (2005)

Herbie Fully Loaded

4.9

camera operator: second unit

director of photography: second unit

2005

 

Harvey Keitel, Joey Lauren Adams, Gulshan Grover, and Ed Quinn in Beeper (2002)

Beeper

4.4

director of photography: additional photography

2002

 

Snoop Dogg, Master P, and Silkk the Shocker in Hot Boyz (2000)

Hot Boyz

4.2

Video

director of photography: second unit

2000

 

Tia Carrere, Dennis Hopper, and Peter Weller in Top of the World (1997)

Top of the World

4.5

director of photography: second unit

1997

 

Jeff Wincott in Last Man Standing (1995)

Last Man Standing

5.6

Video

director of photography: second unit

1995

 

Ticks (1993)

Ticks

5.5

director of photography: additional photography

1993

 

Too Much Sun (1990)

Too Much Sun

4.2

camera operator: second unit

1990

 

Cherry 2000 (1987)

Cherry 2000

5.6

camera operator

1987

 

Michael Chambers, Lucinda Dickey, and Adolfo Quinones in Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984)

Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo

5.1

special camera operator

1984

 

Meg Foster in The Osterman Weekend (1983)

The Osterman Weekend

5.8

cinematographer: second unit

1983

 

Young Warriors (1983)

Young Warriors

4.6

additional photography

1983

 

Richard Kiel, Tim Conway, Fred Covington, Joe Dorsey, Chuck McCann, Reni Santoni, Sonny Shroyer, and Hank Worden in They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way (1978)

They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way

5.0

camera operator

1978

 

America's Sweetheart: The Mary Pickford Story

8.3

assistant cameraman

1978

 

Jennifer (1978)

Jennifer

5.5

first assistant camera

1978

 

The Billion Dollar Hobo (1977)

The Billion Dollar Hobo

4.5

gaffer

1977

 

The Van (1977)

The Van

4.5

gaffer (as Jacques Haitken)

1977

 

Supervan (1977)

Supervan

3.9

second unit camera

1977

 

Director

Duane Davis, Brixton Karnes, Christine Steel, Kathy Trageser, and Nick Wechsler in Team Knight Rider (1997)

Team Knight Rider

4.5

TV Series

Director

1998

1 episode