Age, Biography and Wiki

Lucien Ballard (Lucien Keith Ballard) was born on 6 May, 1908 in Miami, Oklahoma, is an American cinematographer (1908–1988). Discover Lucien Ballard's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 84 years old?

Popular As Lucien Keith Ballard
Occupation Cinematographer
Age 84 years old
Zodiac Sign Taurus
Born 6 May 1908
Birthday 6 May
Birthplace Miami, Oklahoma
Date of death 1 October, 1988
Died Place Rancho Mirage, California
Nationality United States

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 6 May. He is a member of famous Cinematographer with the age 84 years old group.

Lucien Ballard Height, Weight & Measurements

At 84 years old, Lucien Ballard height not available right now. We will update Lucien Ballard's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
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Who Is Lucien Ballard's Wife?

His wife is Margaret McLellan (m. 1928-1944) Merle Oberon (m. 1945-1949) Inez Ethel Pokorny (m. 1949)

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Margaret McLellan (m. 1928-1944) Merle Oberon (m. 1945-1949) Inez Ethel Pokorny (m. 1949)
Sibling Not Available
Children 4

Lucien Ballard Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Lucien Ballard worth at the age of 84 years old? Lucien Ballard’s income source is mostly from being a successful Cinematographer. He is from United States. We have estimated Lucien Ballard's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income Cinematographer

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Timeline

1908

Lucien Ballard (May 6, 1908 – October 1, 1988) was an American cinematographer.

He worked on more than 130 films during his 50-year career, collaborating multiple times with directors including Josef von Sternberg, John Brahm, Henry Hathaway, Budd Boetticher, Raoul Walsh, Sam Peckinpah and Tom Gries.

Ballard was born in Miami, Oklahoma in 1908.

1929

Ballard began working on films at Paramount Studios in 1929 after dating a script woman there.

He later joked in an interview that it was a three-day party at the home of actress Clara Bow that convinced him "this is the business for me".

He began his career loading trucks at Paramount and trained to be a camera assistant.

1930

He was taken on as an assistant to Lee Garmes on Josef von Sternberg's Morocco (1930).

1935

Von Sternberg allowed him credit as a second cameraman on The Devil is a Woman (1935), and the two shared a Venice Film Festival award for Best Cinematography in 1935.

Von Sternberg promoted him to director of photography on Crime and Punishment (1935) and The King Steps Out (1936), based on the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, both at Columbia Pictures.

1937

After filming Dorothy Arzner's Craig's Wife also at Columbia, he settled into making B movies such as The Devil's Playground (1937), Penitentiary and The Lone Wolf in Paris, both 1938.

While at Columbia, he also shot several two-reel comedies, including a number with The Three Stooges.

In an interview with Leonard Maltin, he said he enjoyed working on them because it gave him the freedom to experiment with different lenses and filters, which likely would not have been permitted on features.

1939

Ballard filmed Let Us Live! (1939) for John Brahm and made more films with him including Wild Geese Calling (1941) and The Lodger (1944).

1940

The film was shot in 1940 and 1941 but took five years to be released to selected theaters.

Ballard was the camera man for the screen tests, did some of the second unit work for director Howard Hawks, and assisted cinematographer Gregg Toland on the first unit crew.

1941

In 1941's Howard Hughes film The Outlaw, Hughes cast Jane Russell in the lead and had numerous shots of her cleavage, which got the attention of the Hollywood censors.

1944

He also filmed Laura (1944) for Rouben Mamoulian until Otto Preminger took over as director.

On Morocco, Ballard had also worked with assistant director Henry Hathaway.

This relationship with Hathaway came back to benefit Ballard when Hathaway himself became a director.

1945

On the set of The Lodger, Ballard met and then married actress Merle Oberon; they remained married from 1945 until 1949.

He photographed 4 more of her films – This Love of Ours (1945), Temptation (1946), Night Song (1948), Berlin Express (1948).

After she was involved in a near fatal car crash in London, he invented a light which was mounted by the side of the camera, to provide direct light onto a subject's face, with the aim of reducing the appearance of blemishes and wrinkles.

Named the "Obie", the device benefited Oberon, who had sustained facial scarring in the car accident.

The Obie became widely used in the film industry.

1951

He made The House on Telegraph Hill (1951) and The Desert Rats (1953) for Robert Wise; Return of the Texan (1952) and Susan Slade (1961) with Delmer Daves; three films with Raoul Walsh including The King and Four Queens (1956) and Band of Angels (1957); and three films with Roy Ward Baker, including Inferno (1953), often considered the best shot color 3D film of the era.

1952

They worked together on five films, including Diplomatic Courier (1952), Prince Valiant (1954), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965), Nevada Smith (1966), and True Grit (1969).

The last, because of the natural beauty of southwestern Colorado, garnered Ballard acclaim among his peers.

He also worked on a segment of O. Henry's Full House (1952) with him.

1955

After working with Budd Boetticher on The Magnificent Matador (1955), they worked together on six feature films, including The Killer Is Loose (1956), Buchanan Rides Alone (1958),The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond (1960), A Time for Dying (1969) and Arruza (1971) as well as the television show Maverick (1957) and the documentary My Kingdom For... (1985).

1956

He also worked with Stanley Kubrick on The Killing (1956).

1960

They worked together on The Westerner (1960 television series), Ride the High Country (1962), The Wild Bunch (1969), The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970), The Getaway (1972), and Junior Bonner (1972).

He won the National Society of Film Critics award for Best Cinematography for The Wild Bunch.

1963

He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for The Caretakers (1963).

Ballard was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for The Caretakers (1963).

Another relationship of importance was with Sam Peckinpah.

1968

He also formed a partnership with Tom Gries making five films, including Will Penny (1968) and Breakheart Pass (1976).

1978

His last feature film was Joan Rivers' Rabbit Test (1978) starring Billy Crystal in his film debut.

1988

Ballard died at the age of 80 in 1988, two days after being involved in a car accident near his home in Indian Wells, California.

2016

His mother Ada was Cherokee and Lucien is listed on the Dawes Rolls as 1/16th Cherokee by Blood.

He attended the University of Oklahoma and the University of Pennsylvania and after graduating, he became a surveyor.