- He wrote the role of Cathy Whitaker in Far from Heaven (2002) specifically for Julianne Moore. She went on to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her performance in the film.
- Has directed 3 actresses to Oscar-nominated performances: Julianne Moore, Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett.
- Haynes has made a habit of creating image books as a guide to the visual feel of his films, going back to his drama Safe (1995). The compendiums are culled from photographs, film stills, paintings, periodicals and other sources to generate ideas for the film's style. They are meant initially for the cinematographer. The books are not to be confused with storyboards, the shot-by-shot breakdowns he has made since his first feature, Poison (1991). Haynes said that his image books are "a way of communicating beyond words that gets to the crux of what the mood, temperature and stylistic references would be." And "on a very practical level, it becomes great reference for clothes, hair, makeup, the way women carry themselves in the period and the specificity of how they're being created from the outside in." [from N.Y.Times 2016].
- Received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art and Semiotics with honors, from Brown University, 1985. Is a member of ACT-UP.
- His mother's family was Ashkenazi Jewish (from Poland, Romania, and Russia), and his father has English/Welsh ancestry.
- Has directed 2 actors in Emmy Award-winning performances: Guy Pearce and Kate Winslet in Mildred Pierce (2011).
- Biography in: "Contemporary Authors". Volume 220, pp. 165-168. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2004.
- Often works with Christine Vachon.
- Brother of Shawn Haynes and Wendy Haynes
- Born on exactly the same date as Gabrielle Carteris (of "Beverly Hills 90210" fame).
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