Trivia

He was a perfectionist who would go to great lengths to get the shot he wanted. During the filming of Bullitt (1968), he shot chase-scene footage while strapped to the front of a Mustang going 100 mph.

William Fraker's maternal grandmother brought his mother and aunt to Los Angeles riding a mule all the way from Mazatlan, Mexico, in 1910. She became a photographer for Monroe Studios in downtown Los Angeles and taught her son-in-law, William's father, how to take pictures, who later became a still photographer for Columbia Pictures, where he ran the gallery at the studio from 1927 until 1934, when he died at an early age following a bout with pneumonia. His uncle, Bud Fraker, was also a still photographer for Columbia Pictures, and later for Paramount Pictures.

Made an Honorary Member of the Society of Operating Cameramen (SOC), an organization in which he was a founding supporter. (1981)

He attended USC on the GI Bill.

He served in the US Navy in the Pacific in WWII.

Had been a member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) since 1968. Served as President from 1979 to 1980, 1984 to 1985, and 1991 to 1992.

His first camera-operator job was on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952).

Graduated from USC School of Cinema-Television (1950)

Nephew of Bud Fraker, department head of Still Photography at Paramount Studios.

Father of William A. Fraker Jr., who predeceased him.