De Jarnatt grew up in
Longview, Washington. His father, Arlie De Jarnatt, was a teacher and public representative who taught history and civics at Monticello Middle School and later
R. A. Long High School. He also served five terms as a Democratic Party member of the
Washington House of Representatives and six years as a
state senator. De Jarnatt's mother, Donna, was an artist who also taught at St. Helens Elementary School and Monticello Middle. De Jarnatt himself attended R.A. Long, graduating in 1970. Although he was a successful
sprinter at high school (where he set several records), he chose
Occidental College in Los Angeles, rather than take a track scholarship to a local public university, because he preferred the Southern Californian climate and environment. De Jarnatt first took an interest in film during his time at Occidental; attracted by "access to good film equipment," he subsequently attended
The Evergreen State College, from which he graduated in 1974. He later studied at the
American Film Institute. == Career ==