Trivia

He died only nine days before Laurence Olivier, whom he directed in both Nicholas and Alexandra (1971) and The Boys from Brazil (1978).

Directed four different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: George C. Scott, Janet Suzman, Lee Tracy and Laurence Olivier. Scott won (and refused) the award for his performance in Patton (1970).

He served as TV counselor to President John F. Kennedy in 1961-1963.

He directed two science fiction thrillers: Planet of the Apes (1968) and The Boys from Brazil (1978).

Schaffner was a member of the Directors Guild of America (president 1987-1989), the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Phi Beta Kappa, the Center Theater Group of the Music Center in Los Angeles, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, the National Council of the Arts, the Presidential Task Force on the Arts and Humanities, and the American Film Institute.

President of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) from 1987-89.

In 1977 the Franklin J. Schaffner Film Library was established at his alma mater, Franklin and Marshall College.

He was president of Gilchrist Productions from 1962- 1968, and then president of Franklin Schaffner Productions from 1968- 1989.

His film and TV production files have been donated to Franklin & Marshall College Library in Lancaster, Pennsyvlania.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 759-760. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999.

Father of Jenny Schaffner & Kate Schaffner.

Grandfather of Matthew Schaffner.

Uncle of actor/producer/photographer Ian C Armstrong.

He has directed two films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Planet of the Apes (1968) and Patton (1970).

He has directed two films that have been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Patton (1970) and Nicholas and Alexandra (1971). The former won in the category.