Jacques Haitkin–the cinematographer on the first two A Nightmare on Elm Street films–has passed away at age 72, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Haitkin passed away in San Francisco after a battle with ALS and leukemia. “He always said he never worked a day in his life because he loved his job so much,” his son Zak said, announcing his father’s passing.
Haitkin–a Brooklyn, N.Y. native–attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he shot the 22-minute film Hot Dogs for Gauguin in 1972.
Haitkin was the director of photography for Wes Craven on 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street and for Jack Sholder on A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge in 1985. He worked again with Craven on 1989’s Shocker, and with Sholder on 1987’s The Hidden.
His genre resume also includes Galaxy of Terror (1981), The House Where Evil Dwells (1982), Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence (1992), Ticks (1993), Bloodsport 2 (1996) and Forgotten (2022).
Haitkin is survived by sons Zak and Harry and niece Meri.
The staff of Horror News Network extends its condolences to Haitkin’s family, friends and colleagues.
