Caleb Deschanel

Deschanel was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Ann Ward (née Orr) and Paul Jules Deschanel. His father was French, from Oullins, Rhône, and his mother was American.^[4] Deschanel was raised in his mother's Quaker religion.^[5]

He enrolled^[when?] in Severn School for his high school.^[6] He attended Johns Hopkins University from 1962 to 1966,^[7][8] where he met Walter Murch,^[9] with whom he staged "happenings," including one in which Murch sat down and ate an apple for an audience.^{[citation needed]} Murch graduated a year ahead of him and encouraged Deschanel to follow him to the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, where he graduated in 1968. During this time, Deschanel was a member of a band of film students called "The Dirty Dozen;" this group attracted attention from the Hollywood system. Following his graduation, he attended the American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory and graduated in 1969 as a member of its first class.^[10][8]

Deschanel graduated from the AFT Conversatory in 1969. In 1972, he married actress Mary Jo Weir.^[11] They have two daughters, actresses Emily and Zooey. In 1984, he was invited to join the American Society of Cinematographers (A.S.C.).^[12]