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William Wyler (1902–1981)

Director | Producer | Actor

William Wyler was an American filmmaker who, at the time of his death in 1981, was considered by his peers as second only to John Ford as a master craftsman of cinema. The winner of three Best Director Academy Awards, second again only to Ford's four, Wyler's reputation has unfairly suffered as... See full bio »

Born:

Willi Wyler
in Mülhausen, Alsace, Germany [now Mulhouse, Haut-Rhin, France]

Died:

(age 79) in Los Angeles, California, USA
Barbra Streisand & Director William Wyler at a Directors Group, Nov.1972. George Cukor Hosts a party for Luis Bunuel. Back Row from left: Robert Mulligan, William Wyler, George Cukor, Robert Wise, Jean-Claude Carriere, and Serge Silverman. Front Row from left: Billy Wilder, George Stevens, Luis Bunuel, Alfred Hitchcock, and Rouben Mamoulin. Directors Group, Nov. 1972. George Cukor Hosts a party for Luis Bunuel. Back Row from left: Robert Mulligan, William Wyler, George Cukor, Robert Wise, Jean-Claude Carriere, and Serge Silverman. Front Row from left: Billy Wilder, George Stevens, Luis Bunuel, Alfred Hitchcock, and Rouben Mamoulin. Director William Wyler circa 1946 THE LITTLE FOXES, Teresa Wright, Director William Wyler, Bette Davis, Goldwyn
23 photos | 9 videos | 241 news articles »

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Won 3 Oscars. Another 21 wins & 34 nominations See more awards »

Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideDirector (71 titles)
1970 The Liberation of L.B. Jones
 
1968 Funny Girl
 
1966 How to Steal a Million
 
1965 The Collector
 
1961 The Children's Hour
 
1959 Ben-Hur
 
1958 The Big Country
 
1956 Friendly Persuasion
 
1956 Producers' Showcase (TV series)
– The Letter (1956)
 
1955 The Desperate Hours
 
1953 Roman Holiday
 
1952 Carrie
 
1951 Detective Story
 
1949 The Heiress
 
1947 Thunderbolt (documentary short) (as Lt Col William Wyler)
 
1946 The Best Years of Our Lives
 
1944 The Fighting Lady (documentary) (uncredited)
 
1944 The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress (documentary)
 
1942 Mrs. Miniver
 
1941 The Little Foxes
 
1940 The Letter
 
1940 The Westerner
 
1939 Wuthering Heights
 
1938 The Cowboy and the Lady (uncredited)
 
1938 Jezebel
 
1937 Dead End
 
1936 Come and Get It (completed film)
 
1936 Dodsworth
 
1936 These Three
 
1935 Barbary Coast ( - uncredited; replaced by Howard Hawks)
 
1935 The Gay Deception
 
1935 The Good Fairy
 
1934 Glamour
 
1933 Counsellor at Law
 
1933 Her First Mate
 
1932 Tom Brown of Culver
 
1931 A House Divided
 
1930 The Storm
 
1929 Hell's Heroes
 
1929 The Love Trap
 
1929 The Shakedown
 
1928 Anybody Here Seen Kelly?
 
1928 Thunder Riders
 
1927 Desert Dust
 
1927 The Border Cavalier
 
1927 Daze of the West (short)
 
1927 The Horse Trader (short)
 
1927 The Square Shooter (short)
 
1927 The Phantom Outlaw (short)
 
1927 Gun Justice (short)
 
1927 The Home Trail (short)
 
1927 The Ore Raiders (short)
 
1927 The Lone Star (short)
 
1927 Hard Fists
 
1927 The Haunted Homestead (short)
 
1927 Galloping Justice (short)
 
1927 Shooting Straight
 
1927 Blazing Days
 
1927 The Silent Partner (short)
 
1927 Tenderfoot Courage (short)
 
1927 Kelcy Gets His Man (short)
 
1927 The Two Fister (short)
 
1926 The Stolen Ranch
 
1926 Lazy Lightning
 
1926 Martin of the Mounted (short)
 
1926 The Pinnacle Rider (short)
 
1926 Don't Shoot (short)
 
1926 The Fire Barrier (short)
 
1926 Ridin' for Love (short)
 
1926 The Gunless Bad Man (short)
 
1925 The Crook Buster (short)
 
Show ShowProducer (13 titles)
1961 The Children's Hour (producer)
 
1959 Ben-Hur (producer - uncredited)
 
1958 The Big Country (producer)
 
1956 Friendly Persuasion (producer)
 
1955 The Desperate Hours (producer)
 
1953 Roman Holiday (producer)
 
1952 Carrie (producer)
 
1951 Detective Story (producer)
 
1949 The Heiress (producer)
 
1940 The Letter (producer)
 
1938 Jezebel (producer)
 
1935 The Good Fairy (producer)
 
1929 The Love Trap (producer)
 
Show ShowActor (4 titles)
1966-1970 The Jackie Gleason Show (TV series)
– The Honeymooners: Operation Protest (1970) (as Bill Wyler)
– The Honeymooners: The People's Choice (1967)
– The Honeymooners: Rififi - Brooklyn Style (1967)
– The Honeymooners: Ship of Fools (1966)
– The Passing Politician (1966)
 
1936 Dodsworth
Violin Player in Dance Orchestra (uncredited)
 
1933 Her First Mate
Man on Collapsing Dock (uncredited)
 
1929 The Shakedown
Photographer at Fight Arena (uncredited)
 
Show ShowWriter (2 titles)
1944 The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress (documentary)
 
1926 Ridin' for Love (short) (scenario / story)
 
1925 Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (assistant director - uncredited)
 
1923/I The Hunchback of Notre Dame (assistant director - uncredited)
 
Show ShowCinematographer (1 title)
1944 The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress (documentary) (uncredited)
 
Show ShowMiscellaneous Crew (1 title)
1925 Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (assisitant: Mr. Eason - uncredited)
 
Show ShowThanks (2 titles)
2009 Omaggio a Roma (short) (grateful thanks)
 
1997 Running Time (special thanks)
 
Show ShowSelf (19 titles)
1986 American Masters (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Directed by William Wyler (1986) … Himself
 
1983 Great Performances (TV series)
Himself
– Laurence Olivier: A Life (1983) … Himself
 
1981 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Fred Astaire (TV documentary)
Himself (uncredited)
 
1980 Hollywood (TV mini-series documentary)
Himself
– Trick of the Light (1980) … Himself
 
1977 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Bette Davis (TV special documentary)
Himself
 
1976 The 48th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Director
 
1976 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to William Wyler (TV special documentary)
Himself
 
1971 This Is Your Life (TV series)
Himself
– Bette Davis (1971) … Himself
 
1970 The David Frost Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #2.154 (1970) … Himself
 
1970 The 27th Annual Golden Globes Awards (TV movie)
Himself - Accepting Award for Barbra Streisand
 
1968 This Is Streisand (documentary short)
Himself
 
1965 Cinema (TV series documentary)
Himself
– William Wyler (1965) … Himself
 
1964 À Hollywood avec... (documentary short)
Himself
 
1961 The 33rd Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Presenter: Honorary Award to Gary Cooper
 
1960 The 32nd Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Best Director Winner
 
1958 Cinépanorama (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Episode dated 27 September 1958 (1958) … Himself
 
1957 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #11.8 (1957) … Himself
 
1951 The Screen Director (documentary short)
Himself (staged 'archive' footage) (uncredited)
 
1938 Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 9 (documentary short)
Himself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (8 titles)
2006 Stardust: The Bette Davis Story (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2005 Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema (video documentary)
Himself
 
2003 Bette Davis and William Wyler (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2002 Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film (TV documentary)
Himself (uncredited)
 
2001 American Masters (TV series documentary)
 
1994-2000 Biography (TV series documentary)
 
1993 Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic (video documentary)
Himself - Director
 
1988 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon (TV special documentary)
Himself
 

Related Videos

The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress -- Documentary about the 25th and last bombing mission of a B17, the "Memphis Belle". The "Memphis Belle" took part in a great bombing raid on sub-pens in Wilhelmshafen, Germany. On their way they encounterd heavy AA fire and interceptors. Roman Holiday -- Clip: Today is going to be a holiday Friendly Persuasion -- Trailer this motion picture from William Wyler
See all 9 »
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Personal Details

Publicity Listings:

3 Biographical Movies  | 6 Print Biographies  | 1 Interview  | See more »

Alternate Names:

Bill Wyler | Lt Col William Wyler

Height:

5' 8" (1.73 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

[on Laurence Olivier] Sir Laurence Olivier is one of the most disciplined, prepared, able and intelligent and cooperative actors I have ever worked with. This may well be because he is also a director and a very good one. See more »

Trivia:

His penchant for retakes earned him many nicknames including '90-Take Wyler' and 'Once-More Wyler'. See more »

Trademark:

Known for his rich, honest exploration of people and human behavior, regardless of the scale of the film See more »

Nickname:

90-Take Willie See more »

Star Sign:

Cancer