- Born
- Died
- Wilfred Buckland was born on January 1, 1866. He was an art director and production designer, known for Terror Island (1920), Hawthorne of the U.S.A. (1919) and Almost Human (1927). He was married to Veda Buckland. He died on July 18, 1946 in Hollywood, California, USA.
- SpouseVeda Buckland(? - May 20, 1941) (her death, 1 child)
- He originated interior lighting in the American film industry.
- He was the first film director to use klieg lights.
- His only son, Bill, when an adult, had psychological problems which resulted in his treatment with electric shock therapy. Because of this, Bill needed constant care, which became his father's sole responsibility after Bill's mother's death. Despondent, the elderly Wilfred shot his son in the head and killed him as he slept, before taking his own life with the same gun.
- Inducted into the Art Directors Guild Hall of Fame in 2004.
- Buckland was a leading designer from the New York stage (primarily for David Belasco), who became the first genuine art director in Hollywood. After working on The Squaw Man (1914), he became a regular collaborator of Cecil B. DeMille and cameraman Alvin Wyckoff. Under contract to Jesse Lasky (1914-20) at Famous Players, he pioneered artificial lighting and controlled use of shadows. He was also the first to use real furniture in his sets. His crowning achievement was the massive castle he created for Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood (1922).
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