CINEMATOGRAPHER · BORN 1926 · DIED 2003
Conrad Hall
- Born
- 21 June 1926, Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia
- Died
- 4 January 2003
- Known for
- American Beauty (1999)
18 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Conrad Hall (21 June 1926 – 4 January 2003) was a director best known for American Beauty.
18 Interesting Facts About Conrad Hall
Interesting Facts (1)
- #001
The 2002 crime drama Road to Perdition is dedicated to Conrad Hall. The film was his last work and is regarded as a masterpiece that showcases his mastery. The dedication in the film's credits honors the legacy Hall left to cinema, a gesture by director Sam Mendes and his team that immortalized his contributions.
Characters & Cast (9)
- #002
Conrad Hall won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for the 2002 film Road to Perdition just 11 weeks before his death. However, Hall passed away before he could attend the ceremony. The award was accepted on his behalf by his son, Conrad W. Hall, who was also a cinematographer. It was an emotional moment for both the family and the film world.
- #003
Conrad Hall is one of only six cinematographers to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This select list also includes Hal Mohr, J. Peverell Marley, Leon Shamroy, Haskell Wexler and Ray Rennahan. This star is a sign of how much his contributions to the film world were appreciated. Although cinematographers generally remain behind the scenes, Hall's name was immortalized with this honor.
- #004
The 2002 crime drama Road to Perdition is dedicated to Conrad Hall. This film was Hall's last work and is regarded as a masterpiece that showcases his mastery. The dedication in the film's credits honors the legacy Hall left to the film world. Director Sam Mendes and his team immortalized Hall's contributions with this gesture.
- #005
After his death, Conrad Hall was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7060 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, on May 1, 2003. This ceremony ensured that his contributions to the film world were once again recognized. The star became a lasting symbol carrying Hall's name and legacy to future generations.
- #006
Conrad Hall had been a member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) since 1967. This membership shows his professional standing and reputation in the industry. The ASC is one of the most prestigious organizations in the field of cinematography, and Hall's place in it is proof of his expertise. Throughout his career, Hall contributed to the art of cinema as an active member of this society.
- #007
Conrad Hall was named after the famous writers Joseph Conrad and Lafcadio Hearn. Joseph Conrad is known for his novels with maritime themes, while Lafcadio Hearn is known for his works about Japan. Hall's name is a combination of these two important literary figures and symbolizes his cultural background.
- #008
Conrad Hall's decade-long absence from feature films was partly due to his long struggle with Guillain-Barré Syndrome. This rare neurological disease seriously affected his career. Even during this difficult period, Hall never lost his passion for cinema and returned behind the camera after regaining his health. This experience shows his perseverance and determination.
- #009
Conrad Hall was the son of the famous writer James Norman Hall. James Norman Hall was a novelist known especially for the 'Mutiny on the Bounty' trilogy. His father's literary legacy may have shaped Conrad's interest in art. However, Conrad forged his own path and achieved great fame in the film world. This father-son pair made important contributions to American culture, albeit in different fields.
- #010
Conrad Hall was the cousin of actors Jon Hall and Ben Chapman. He was also the brother of Nancy Hall Rutgers. These family ties may have strengthened his relationship with the film world. Jon Hall appeared in popular adventure films of the 1940s, while Ben Chapman is known for his role in 'The Creature from the Black Lagoon.' Hall's family was represented across a wide range of the entertainment industry.
Deeper Meaning (1)
- #011
Conrad Hall was named after the famous writers Joseph Conrad and Lafcadio Hearn, a choice that reflects his family's interest in literature. Joseph Conrad is known for his nautical novels, while Lafcadio Hearn is known for his works about Japan. Hall's name combines these two important literary figures and symbolizes his cultural background.
Conrad Hall: a sceneImage: Wikimedia Commons · David Anstiss, CC BY-SA 2.0
Career & Awards (4)
- #012
Conrad Hall won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for the 2002 film Road to Perdition just 11 weeks before his death. The award was accepted on his behalf by his son Conrad W. Hall, himself a cinematographer, in an emotional moment for both the family and the film world.
- #013
Conrad Hall is one of only six cinematographers with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a select list that also includes Hal Mohr, J. Peverell Marley, Leon Shamroy, Haskell Wexler and Ray Rennahan. The star reflects how widely his contributions to cinema have been recognized. Although cinematographers generally remain behind the scenes, Hall's name has been immortalized with this honor.
Conrad Hall: a sceneImage: Wikimedia Commons · Paul Harrop, CC BY-SA 2.0 - #014
Conrad Hall was posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7060 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, on May 1, 2003. The ceremony brought further recognition of his contributions to cinema. The star became a lasting symbol carrying Hall's name and legacy to future generations, underscoring his unique talent and influence in cinematography.
- #015
Conrad Hall had been a member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) since 1967. The membership reflects his professional standing and reputation in the industry. The ASC is one of the most prestigious organizations in cinematography, and Hall's place in it is proof of his expertise; he contributed to the art of cinema as an active member of the society throughout his career.
Life & Family (3)
- #016
Conrad Hall's decade-long absence from feature films was due in part to a long struggle with Guillain-Barré Syndrome. The rare neurological illness seriously affected his career. Even during this difficult period Hall never lost his passion for cinema, and once he regained his health he returned behind the camera, a experience that demonstrates his perseverance and determination.
- #017
Conrad Hall was the son of the famous writer James Norman Hall, a novelist best known for the 'Mutiny on the Bounty' trilogy. His father's literary legacy may have shaped Conrad's interest in art, but Conrad forged his own path and achieved great fame in the world of cinema. Father and son, though in different fields, both made important contributions to American culture.
- #018
Conrad Hall was a cousin of the actors Jon Hall and Ben Chapman, and the brother of Nancy Hall Rutgers. These family ties may have strengthened his connection to the film world. Jon Hall appeared in popular adventure films of the 1940s, while Ben Chapman is known for his role in 'The Creature from the Black Lagoon'; Hall's family was represented across a wide range of the entertainment industry.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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