Abraham Zapruder – The man with the camera

Abraham Zapruder was a Ukrainian-born American clothing manufacturer living in Dallas, Texas. On November 22, 1963, he brought his Bell & Howell home movie camera to Dealey Plaza to record President John F. Kennedy’s motorcade as it passed near his office. Standing on a concrete pedestal for a better view, Zapruder captured the entire assassination sequence on an 8mm color film — including the fatal shot that struck Kennedy in the head.

His film, later known as the Zapruder film, quickly became one of the most important and controversial pieces of evidence in the investigation of the assassination. It was used extensively by the Warren Commission and has been repeatedly analyzed by investigators, researchers, and the public for decades. The film’s raw, unfiltered depiction of the event provided a visual record that influenced public perception and historical understanding of the tragedy. Zapruder, deeply affected by what he had witnessed, initially hesitated to release the footage but eventually sold it to Life magazine under the condition it would be handled respectfully. His recording remains one of the most scrutinized and iconic pieces of footage in American history.

House of Abraham Zapruder (former)