Jeff Wexler obit

Jeff Wexler Dies: Pioneering Oscar-Nominated & BAFTA-Winning Sound Mixer Was 78

 

He was not on the list.

Jeff Wexler, the BAFTA Award-winning and two-time Oscar-nominated sound mixer behind projects like Almost Famous, The Last Samurai and Independence Day, has died at the age of 78, his children confirmed in a statement to the Motion Picture Sound Editors.

Wexler died Dec. 9 at his Santa Monica home after a yearslong battle with chronic kidney disease, said Vanessa and David Wexler. “Losing him is overwhelming, even though we knew his body had been fighting for a long time,” they wrote.

A leader in the community and founder/moderator behind the online forum jwsoundgroup.net, which allows sound department workers a hub to discuss their craft, Wexler also pioneered the introduction of digital production recording with DAT (Digital Audio Tape) and first-ever file-based production recording with the original Zaxcom Deva I.

The legendary below-the-line worker received the Cinema Audio Society’s Career Achievement Award in 2011 and served on the board of directors for the organization. Prior to his death, he remained an industry participant by guest lecturing, leading panel discussions and moderating workshops.

In addition to the aforementioned films, his extensive credits (more than 70 pictures) over the course of his five-decade-career include 42, Vanilla Sky, As Good as It Gets, Jerry Maguire, Fight Club, A Perfect World, Ghost, Spaceballs, The Natural, An Officer and a Gentleman, 9 to 5 and many others.

“Our dad was kind in a way that felt effortless, generous in a way that asked for nothing back, and endlessly curious about the world. What meant the most to him was his family. He was a source of unwavering support, encouragement, and love, always present for us regardless of his professional commitments,” the family statement continued.

Wexler grew up around film sets as the son of Haskell Wexler, the two-time Academy Award-winning cinematographer of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Bound for Glory. Though the young Wexler initially believed he would become a sociology teacher, a summer job on the set of 1971’s Harold and Maude “showed him exactly where he belonged: right there on set, actively listening, creatively contributing, paying attention in the way only he could.”

“He cared deeply about his craft and was always pushing it forward,” the Wexler children wrote. “He helped usher in new recording technologies long before they became standard. He mentored younger sound people. He loved problem-solving. He loved being part of something bigger than himself. But the main thing we want people to know is that he was a great dad. Someone who showed up for us. A man of quiet integrity, whose deep and comprehensive exploration of the human condition was evident in all he did. He loved film for its ability to connect people.”

The statement concluded, “Our stepmom, Carol, passed away earlier this year, and even though losing them both so close together feels surreal, we are grateful they are at peace. We know our dad will be missed far beyond our family. The film community loved him, learned from him, and was inspired by him. We were fortunate to have him as a father, and despite his physical absence, he remains with us always.”

Sound Department

Warren Beatty, Alden Ehrenreich, and Lily Collins in Rules Don't Apply (2016)

Rules Don't Apply

5.7

sound mixer

2016

 

Carla Gugino, Luke Wilson, Colson Baker, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Peter Cambor, Finesse Mitchell, and Imogen Poots in Roadies (2016)

Roadies

7.4

TV Series

production sound mixer

2016

2 episodes

 

Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams, and Emma Stone in Aloha (2015)

Aloha

5.4

production mixer

2015

 

Chadwick Boseman in 42 (2013)

42

7.5

sound mixer (as Jeffrey S. Wexler)

2013

 

Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei, Tom Everett Scott, Bailee Madison, Joshua Rush, and Kyle Breitkopf in Parental Guidance (2012)

Parental Guidance

6.0

sound mixer

2012

 

Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Maggie Elizabeth Jones, and Felix in We Bought a Zoo (2011)

We Bought a Zoo

7.0

production sound mixer

2011

 

Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Colin Farrell, and Jason Sudeikis in Horrible Bosses (2011)

Horrible Bosses

6.9

production sound mixer

2011

 

Ordinary Average Guys (2011)

Ordinary Average Guys

7.4

Short

sound mixer

2011

 

Julia Roberts, Kathy Bates, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Queen Latifah, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Ashton Kutcher, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Emma Roberts, and Taylor Lautner in Valentine's Day (2010)

Valentine's Day

5.8

sound mixer

2010

 

Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon in Four Christmases (2008)

Four Christmases

5.7

sound mixer

2008

 

Anna Faris and Jon Heder in Mama's Boy (2007)

Mama's Boy

5.2

sound mixer

2007

 

Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in Rush Hour 3 (2007)

Rush Hour 3

6.2

production sound mixer

2007

 

From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks (2007)

From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks

8.9

sound

2007

 

Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible III (2006)

Mission: Impossible III

6.9

sound mixer

2006

 

Who Needs Sleep? (2006)

Who Needs Sleep?

7.1

sound

2006

 

The Family Stone (2005)

The Family Stone

6.3

sound mixer

2005

 

Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom in Elizabethtown (2005)

Elizabethtown

6.3

sound mixer

2005

 

The Dark Agent and the Passing of the Torch Chapter 7 (2004)

The Dark Agent and the Passing of the Torch Chapter 7

9.1

Short

sound mixer

2004

 

Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai (2003)

The Last Samurai

7.8

production sound mixer

2003

 

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck in Gigli (2003)

Gigli

2.7

production sound mixer

2003

 

Jason Lee and Tom Green in Stealing Harvard (2002)

Stealing Harvard

5.1

sound mixer

2002

 

Tom Cruise in Vanilla Sky (2001)

Vanilla Sky

6.9

sound mixer

2001

 

John Cleese, Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg, Cuba Gooding Jr., Seth Green, Jon Lovitz, Breckin Meyer, and Amy Smart in Rat Race (2001)

Rat Race

6.5

sound

2001

 

61* (2001)

61*

7.7

TV Movie

sound mixer

2001

 

Kate Hudson in Almost Famous (2000)

Almost Famous

7.9

production sound mixer

2000

 

Brad Pitt and Edward Norton in Fight Club (1999)

Fight Club

8.8

sound mixer

1999

 

The Siege (1998)

The Siege

6.4

sound mixer: Los Angeles

1998

 

Hurlyburly (1998)

Hurlyburly

5.8

sound mixer (as Jeffrey S. Wexler)

1998

 

Billy Crystal and Gheorghe Muresan in My Giant (1998)

My Giant

5.0

production sound mixer

1998

 

Jack Nicholson in As Good as It Gets (1997)

As Good as It Gets

7.7

sound mixer

1997

 

Richard Gere and Mark Knapton in Red Corner (1997)

Red Corner

6.3

production sound recordist (as Jeffrey Wexler)

1997

 

Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire (1996)

Jerry Maguire

7.3

sound mixer

1996

 

Independence Day (1996)

Independence Day

7.0

sound mixer

1996

 

Mel Brooks, Leslie Nielsen, Lysette Anthony, Peter MacNicol, Steven Weber, and Amy Yasbeck in Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995)

Dracula: Dead and Loving It

5.9

production sound

1995

 

John Travolta, Danny DeVito, Gene Hackman, and Rene Russo in Get Shorty (1995)

Get Shorty

6.9

production sound

1995

 

Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, and Juliette Lewis in Strange Days (1995)

Strange Days

7.2

sound

1995

 

Billy Crystal and Debra Winger in Forget Paris (1995)

Forget Paris

6.5

production sound

1995

 

Billy Crystal, Jon Lovitz, Jack Palance, and Daniel Stern in City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994)

City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold

5.6

production sound

1994

 

Charles Grodin and Martin Short in Clifford (1994)

Clifford

5.6

production sound mixer

1994

 

Kevin Costner, Clint Eastwood, and T.J. Lowther in A Perfect World (1993)

A Perfect World

7.5

sound mixer

1993

 

Cary Elwes in Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)

Robin Hood: Men in Tights

6.7

production sound

1993

 

Jack the Bear (1993)

Jack the Bear

6.5

sound mixer

1993

 

Jeff Bridges, Kiefer Sutherland, and Nancy Travis in The Vanishing (1993)

The Vanishing

6.3

sound mixer

1993

 

Mr. Saturday Night (1992)

Mr. Saturday Night

5.9

production sound mixer

1992

 

Danny DeVito in Other People's Money (1991)

Other People's Money

6.2

sound mixer

1991

 

Lily Tomlin in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe (1991)

The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe

7.5

sound mixer

1991

 

Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze in Ghost (1990)

Ghost

7.1

sound mixer

1990

 

Michael Douglas, Danny DeVito, and Kathleen Turner in The War of the Roses (1989)

The War of the Roses

6.9

sound mixer

1989

 

Dennis Quaid and Jessica Lange in Everybody's All-American (1988)

Everybody's All-American

6.2

production sound mixersound

1988

 

Memories of Me (1988)

Memories of Me

5.7

sound mixer

1988

 

Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito in Throw Momma from the Train (1987)

Throw Momma from the Train

6.3

production sound

1987

 

Mel Brooks, Bill Pullman, John Candy, Rick Moranis, and Daphne Zuniga in Spaceballs (1987)

Spaceballs

7.1

production sound mixer

1987

 

Danny DeVito and Richard Dreyfuss in Tin Men (1987)

Tin Men

6.6

production sound

1987

 

Rosanna Arquette, Jeff Bridges, and Alexandra Paul in 8 Million Ways to Die (1986)

8 Million Ways to Die

5.8

production sound

1986

 

Ed Harris and Jessica Lange in Sweet Dreams (1985)

Sweet Dreams

7.0

production sound

1985

 

Mariel Hemingway and Peter O'Toole in Creator (1985)

Creator

6.1

production sound mixer

1985

 

Rebecca De Mornay and Michael O'Keefe in The Slugger's Wife (1985)

The Slugger's Wife

4.4

production sound mixer

1985

 

Untitled Musical

sound mixer

1984

 

Robert Redford in The Natural (1984)

The Natural

7.4

production sound

1984

 

Jeff Bridges and Rachel Ward in Against All Odds (1984)

Against All Odds

5.9

sound mixer

1984

 

Bette Davis and James Stewart in Right of Way (1983)

Right of Way

7.2

TV Movie

sound mixer

1983

 

John Travolta in Staying Alive (1983)

Staying Alive

4.8

production sound mixer

1983

 

Table for Five (1983)

Table for Five

6.1

sound mixer

1983

 

Ann-Margret, Jon Voight, and Burt Young in Lookin' to Get Out (1982)

Lookin' to Get Out

5.1

sound mixer

1982

 

Let's Spend the Night Together (1982)

Let's Spend the Night Together

6.5

production sound mixer

1982

 

Richard Gere and Debra Winger in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

An Officer and a Gentleman

7.1

sound mixer

1982

 

Jane Fonda in Workout (1982)

Workout

8.0

Video

sound

1982

 

Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton, Dabney Coleman, and Lily Tomlin in 9 to 5 (1980)

9 to 5

6.9

production sound mixer

1980

 

The Black Marble (1980)

The Black Marble

6.2

sound mixer

1980

 

Being There (1979)

Being There

7.9

production sound mixer

1979

 

The Brink's Job (1978)

The Brink's Job

6.5

sound

1978

 

Foul Play (1978)

Foul Play

6.8

sound mixer

1978

 

Just Me and You (1978)

Just Me and You

6.8

TV Movie

sound mixer

1978

 

Jane Fonda, Jon Voight, and Bruce Dern in Coming Home (1978)

Coming Home

7.3

sound mixer

1978

 

Robert Blake in STP Oil Treatment (1977)

STP Oil Treatment

Short

sound mixer

1977

 

Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker in The Making of 'Star Wars' (1977)

The Making of 'Star Wars'

7.4

TV Movie

sound mixer

1977

 

Bound for Glory (1976)

Bound for Glory

7.2

sound consultant

1976

 

Mike Connors in Revenge for a Rape (1976)

Revenge for a Rape

5.7

TV Movie

sound mixer

1976

 

The Olympiad (1976)

The Olympiad

7.4

TV Mini Series

sound recordist

1976

3 episodes

 

Prisoners (1975)

Prisoners

7.4

sound mixer

1975

 

The Four Deuces (1975)

The Four Deuces

4.2

sound mixer

1975

 

Best Friends (1975)

Best Friends

5.1

sound

1975

 

Nothing by Chance (1975)

Nothing by Chance

7.6

sound recordist

1975

 

Invasion of the Bee Girls (1973)

Invasion of the Bee Girls

4.9

sound mixer

1973

 

Ayn Ruymen in Private Parts (1972)

Private Parts

6.4

sound

1972

 

Cool Breeze (1972)

Cool Breeze

5.4

sound

1972

 

Production Department

New

Bud Cort, Ruth Gordon, Cyril Cusack, Judy Engles, Ellen Geer, Vivian Pickles, Shari Summers, and Charles Tyner in Harold and Maude (1971)

Harold and Maude

7.8

production assistant

1971

 

Self

Hal Ashby in Hal (2018)

Hal

7.2

Self

2018