- His uncle Carl Balhaus appeared in the classic M (1931) as the man who marked Peter Lorre with the sign "M".
- He retired in 2016, suffering from glaucoma and nearly blind.
- Got to know Rainer Werner Fassbinder, with whom he made 15 movies, in the late 1960s.
- He was the director of photography for six films that were nominated for the 'Best Picture' Academy Award: Broadcast News (1987), Working Girl (1988), Goodfellas (1990), Quiz Show (1994), Gangs of New York (2002) and The Departed (2006), which won 'Best Picture'.
- Visiting the set of Lola Montès (1955) and watching cinematographer Christian Matras at work was an important inspiration for young Michael. His aunt was married to Max Ophüls, the film's director.
- In 2007 he was the first German cinematographer to be honored with an "International Award" by the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC).
- Member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) since 1987.
- Member of "Official Competition" jury at the 49th Cannes International Film Festival in 1996.
- Together with Margaret Ménégoz head of the "Official Competition" jury at the 40th Berlin International Film Festival in 1990.
- Son of Oskar Ballhaus and Lena Hutter.
- As of 2016, was living in Berlin-Zehlendorf, Germany.
- In 2014, Michael Ballhaus released his autobiography, "Bilder im Kopf," in which he also discusses the gradual loss of his vision due to glaucoma.
- Member of the "Official Competition" jury at the 60th Venice International Film Festival in 2003.
- Father of Jan Sebastian Ballhaus and Florian Ballhaus.
- Retrospective and Homage at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival in 2016.
- Retrospective at the Cinémathèque Francaise in 2010.
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