Deborah Nadoolman Landis

Deborah Nadoolman Landis is an American costume designer, author, historian, and academic best known for her innovative work on landmark films, including creating the iconic fedora and leather jacket worn by Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). She has collaborated extensively with filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg, John Landis (her husband), and Eddie Murphy, contributing to films like National Lampoon's Animal House (1978), The Blues Brothers (1980), Coming to America (1988)—for which she earned an Academy Award nomination—and Michael Jackson's Thriller (1983) music video.

Landis's career spans over four decades, marked by her leadership roles in the industry, including serving as president of the Costume Designers Guild for two terms and as a governor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She also curated the influential Hollywood Costume exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 2012, showcasing over 130 iconic garments from film history. As an educator, she holds the position of Distinguished Professor and founding director of the David C. Copley Center for Costume Design at UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television, where she promotes the scholarly study of costume design.

Deborah Nadoolman Landis was born on May 26, 1952, in New York City to a Jewish family.

Her parents, Milton Nadoolman, a pharmacist, and Laura Nadoolman, a teacher of the deaf, created a supportive environment that emphasized education and community involvement. The family's Jewish heritage provided a cultural foundation rich in tradition and storytelling, which subtly influenced Landis's appreciation for expressive forms of art and narrative. This background fostered a home life centered on intellectual pursuits and familial creativity, away from the glamour of entertainment but grounded in practical professions.