Years active 1922–1968 Name Byron Haskin | ||
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Full Name Byron Conrad Haskin Awards Academy Award for Best Technical Achievement, Retro Hugo for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form Nominations Academy Award for Best Visual Effects Movies The War of the Worlds, The Naked Jungle, Robinson Crusoe on Mars, Treasure Island, Conquest of Space Similar People Ann Robinson, George Pal, Gene Barry, Abraham Sofaer, Robert Newton | ||
Byron Conrad Haskin (April 22, 1899 – April 16, 1984) was an American film and television director. He was born in Portland, Oregon.
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Career
Haskin is known for directing The War of the Worlds (1953), one of many films where he teamed with producer George Pal. In his early career, he was a special effects artist, with a number of credits on Warner Bros. films, eventually becoming the head of the studio's special effects department. During his tenure there he earned three Oscar nominations for his effects work, and was even recognized with a Scientific and Technical Award citation for developing a rear-projection system useful in effects photography. In the late 1940s he turned to directing, helming the low budget film-noir "Too Late for Tears" (1949) starring Lizabeth Scott and Treasure Island (1950), one of Walt Disney's earliest live-action features. Following The War of the Worlds, he continued his collaboration with George Pal, with The Naked Jungle (1954), Conquest of Space (1955), and The Power (1968). His other significant film is the science fiction adventure Robinson Crusoe on Mars, released in 1964. Haskin also worked as a cinematographer and producer.
His career in television included directing six episodes of The Outer Limits (1963–65), including two highly regarded episodes, "The Architects of Fear" (1963) and "Demon with a Glass Hand" (1964). He also co-produced the original Star Trek pilot episode, "The Cage" (1965).
Haskin appeared as an interviewee in a documentary series, Hollywood (1980), on the silent film era, which was co-produced by Kevin Brownlow. Haskin died in Montecito, California six days before his 85th birthday.
Personal life
Haskin was married twice. He is survived by his second wife, the former Terry Gates; and a daughter from his first marriage, Shirley Flynn. His daughter married actor Joe Flynn.