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William A. Wellman (1896–1975)

Director | Producer | Writer

William Wellman, the Oscar-winning screenwriter-director of the original A Star Is Born, was called "Wild Bill" during his World War I service as an aviator, a nickname that persisted in Hollywood due to his larger-than-life personality and lifestyle. A leap-year baby born in 1896 on the 29th of February in Brookline... See full bio »

Born:

William Augustus Wellman
in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA

Died:

(age 79) in Los Angeles, California, USA
John Wayne and William A. Wellman
2 photos | 7 videos | 140 news articles »

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Franklin Ojeda Smith - -- "...back in the day the 'barb wire' was more visible" and early on I chose baseball over acting; then academia and not baseball. Now,"...the kids are grown, the dog is dead and now that I may, I choose acting." Please take a look: 1)Boardwalk Empire - Deacon Cuffy 2)Murder Incorporated - Sam Christenson 3)Cayman Went - Aniston Turnkey 4)Letting Go -Therapist 5)Footsteps in the Sand - Jim. Thank You! Franklin

Franklin Ojeda Smith -

Christopher Mann's Theatrical Demo Reel -- This reel contains Christopher performing in Film and Television. The clips included are from the following: "The Boundary", "The Wire", "Duplicity", "Law & Order(SVU)", "Michael Clayton", "Cost Of A Soul", "HEROES" and "Law & Order (CI)".

Christopher Mann's Theatrical Demo Reel

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama -- On-camera drama reel featuring David H. Lawrence XVII, in scenes from Heroes, The Unit, LOST, and more

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama

My Demo Reel -- Includes clips from GLORY DAZE, COMMUNITY and horror film URBAN EXPLORER.

My Demo Reel

Francine Locke Film Reel -- Family Law (Best Actress, Gideon), Stealing Home (Best Supporting Actress-nom.) 168 Project, True Tale Monster (Albert P. Weisman Award), The Discarded (2011 Feature Release).

Francine Locke Film Reel


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Won Oscar. Another 7 wins & 5 nominations See more awards »

Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideDirector (83 titles)
1958 Lafayette Escadrille
 
1958 Darby's Rangers
 
1956 Good-bye, My Lady
 
1955 Blood Alley
 
1954 Track of the Cat
 
1954 Light's Diamond Jubilee (TV documentary)
 
1954 Ring of Fear (uncredited)
 
1954 The High and the Mighty
 
1953 Island in the Sky
 
1952 My Man and I
 
1951 Westward the Women
 
1951 It's a Big Country
 
1951 Across the Wide Missouri
 
1950 The Happy Years
 
1950 The Next Voice You Hear...
 
1949 Battleground
 
1948 Yellow Sky
 
1948 The Iron Curtain
 
1947 Magic Town
 
1946 Gallant Journey
 
1945 Story of G.I. Joe
 
1945 This Man's Navy
 
1944 Buffalo Bill
 
1943 The Ox-Bow Incident
 
1943 Lady of Burlesque
 
1942 Thunder Birds [Soldiers of the Air]
 
1942 The Great Man's Lady
 
1942 Roxie Hart
 
1941 Reaching for the Sun
 
1939 The Light That Failed
 
1939 Beau Geste
 
1938 Men with Wings
 
1938 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (some scenes: retakes - uncredited)
 
1937 Nothing Sacred
 
1937 A Star Is Born
 
1936 Tarzan Escapes (uncredited)
 
1936 Small Town Girl
 
1936 Robin Hood of El Dorado
 
1935 The Call of the Wild (as William Wellman)
 
1934 The President Vanishes
 
1934 Stingaree (as William Wellman)
 
1934 Viva Villa! (uncredited)
 
1934 Looking for Trouble (as William Wellman)
 
1933 Female ( - uncredited / 17 scenes)
 
1933 College Coach
 
1933 Wild Boys of the Road
 
1933 Midnight Mary (as William Wellman)
 
1933 Heroes for Sale
 
1933 Lilly Turner
 
1933 Central Airport
 
1932 Frisco Jenny
 
1932 The Conquerors
 
1932 The Purchase Price
 
1932 Love Is a Racket
 
1932 So Big!
 
1932 The Hatchet Man
 
1931 Safe in Hell
 
1931 The Star Witness
 
1931 Night Nurse
 
1931 The Public Enemy
 
1931 Other Men's Women
 
1930 Maybe It's Love
 
1930 Young Eagles
 
1930 Dangerous Paradise
 
1929 Woman Trap
 
1929 The Man I Love
 
1929 Chinatown Nights
 
1928 Beggars of Life
 
1928 Ladies of the Mob
 
1928 The Legion of the Condemned
 
1927 Wings
 
1926 The Cat's Pajamas
 
1926 You Never Know Women
 
1926 The Boob
 
1925 When Husbands Flirt (as William Wellman)
 
1924 The Circus Cowboy (as William Wellman)
 
1924 The Vagabond Trail
 
1924 Not a Drum Was Heard
 
1923 Cupid's Fireman
 
1923 Big Dan
 
1923 Second Hand Love (as William Wellman)
 
1923 The Man Who Won
 
1920 The Twins of Suffering Creek (uncredited)
 
Show ShowProducer (10 titles)
1958 Lafayette Escadrille (producer)
 
1947 Magic Town (producer - as A William A. Wellman Production)
 
1946 Gallant Journey (producer)
 
1942 The Great Man's Lady (producer)
 
1941 Reaching for the Sun (producer)
 
1939 The Light That Failed (producer)
 
1939 Beau Geste (producer)
 
1938 Men with Wings (producer)
 
1928 Ladies of the Mob (producer)
 
1928 The Legion of the Condemned (producer)
 
Show ShowWriter (9 titles)
1976 A Star Is Born (1937 story)
 
1958 Lafayette Escadrille (from a story by)
 
1954 A Star Is Born (1937 story)
 
1951 Robert Montgomery Presents (TV series)
– A Star Is Born (1951)
 
1946 Gallant Journey (written by)
 
1937 Nothing Sacred (contributing writer - uncredited)
 
1937 The Last Gangster (original story)
 
1937 A Star Is Born (story)
 
1936 Robin Hood of El Dorado (screenplay)
 
Show ShowActor (7 titles)
1958 Lafayette Escadrille
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
 
1953 Island in the Sky
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
 
1932 Frisco Jenny
Reporter (uncredited)
 
1931 The Star Witness
Company Workman (uncredited)
 
1927 Wings
Doughboy (uncredited)
 
1919 Evangeline
British lieutenant
 
1919 The Knickerbocker Buckaroo
Henry (as William Wellman)
 
1935 China Seas (second unit director: pirate scenes - uncredited)
 
Show ShowSelf (9 titles)
1980 Hollywood (TV mini-series documentary)
Himself (1973 TV interview)
 
1975 Gable: The King Remembered (TV documentary)
Himself (as William Wellman)
 
1973 The Men Who Made the Movies: William A. Wellman (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1972 This Is Your Life (TV series)
Himself
– Joel McCrea (1972) … Himself
 
1971 The Movie Crazy Years (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1954-1960 This Is Your Life (TV series)
Himself
– Robert Stack (1960) … Himself
– William Wellman (1954) … Himself
 
1951 Challenge the Wilderness (documentary short)
Himself
 
1931 Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 8 (documentary short)
Himself
 
1925 1925 Studio Tour (documentary short)
Himself - a Director
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (6 titles)
2008 American Masters (TV series documentary)
 
2005 Filmmakers in Action (documentary)
Himself
 
2001 Biography (TV series documentary)
 
1995 Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick (documentary)
Himself
 
1988 The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind (TV documentary)
Himself - Director of 'A Star Is Born' (as William Wellman)
 
1980 Hollywood (TV mini-series documentary)
 

Related Videos

Nothing Sacred -- To redeem himself after a hoax, reporter Wallace Cook proposes a series of stories on doomed Hazel Flagg... Blood Alley -- A merchant marine captain, rescued from the Chinese Communists by local visitors, is "shanghaied" into transporting the whole village to Hong Kong on an ancient paddle steamer. The High and the Mighty -- When a commercial airliner develops engine problems on a trans-Pacific flight and the pilot loses his nerve, it is up to the washed-up co-pilot Dan Roman to bring the plane in safely.
See all 7 »
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Personal Details

Publicity Listings:

2 Biographical Movies  | 4 Print Biographies  | 4 Articles  | See more »

Alternate Names:

A William A. Wellman Production | William Wellman
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

(on Robert Taylor(Wellman directed him in Small Town Girl and in Westward the Women)) I have never gotten along with actors but I was crazy about Bob Taylor. I think he's one of the finest men I've ever known.He was probably handsomest of them all.I had no trouble with him at all. He did everything I asked him to; he was wonderful. See more »

Trivia:

A great-great-great grandson of Francis Lewis of New York, one of the signatories to the Declaration of Independence. See more »

Nickname:

Wild Bill See more »

Star Sign:

Pisces