Frederick Wiseman, Legendary Immersive Documentarian, Dies at 96
Renowned documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman, famed for long, observational films that avoid narration and focus on institutions, died Feb. 16 in Cambridge, Massachusetts at 96. A Yale Law graduate who turned to filmmaking, he created influential works from Titicut Follies (1967) to City Hall (2020) and continued working into his 90s, earning an honorary Oscar and teaching through his minimalist, editor-driven approach. Wiseman’s films emphasize patterns over heroes and have shaped modern documentary storytelling.