Billy Wilder (I) (1906–2002)

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Billy Wilder Picture
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Originally planning to become a lawyer, Billy Wilder abandoned that career in favor of working as a reporter for a Viennese newspaper, using this experience to move to Berlin, where he worked for the city's largest tabloid. He broke into films as a screenwriter in 1929 and wrote scripts for many German films until Adolf Hitler came to power in ... See full bio »

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Won 6 Oscars. Another 49 wins & 61 nominations. See more awards »

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126 photos | 3 videos »

Known For

Poikamiesboksi
Poikamiesboksi Writer
(1960)
Piukat paikat
Piukat paikat Writer
(1959)
Kaunis Sabrina
Kaunis Sabrina Writer
(1954)
Auringonlaskun katu
Auringonlaskun katu Writer
(1950)
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Filmography

Hide Hide Show Show Writer (83 credits)
 2018 La Garçonnière (TV Movie) (original scenario)
 2012 Love, Marilyn (Documentary) (excerpts from letters)
 2008 Eine kleine Anekdote (Short) (idea)
 1995 Sabrina (earlier screenplay)
 1982 Syyttäjän todistaja (TV Movie) (1957 screenplay)
 1978 Fedora - arvoituksellinen nainen (screenplay)
 1974 Etusivu uusiks' (screenplay)
 1973 Double Indemnity (TV Movie) (1944 screenplay)
 1972 Avanti! (screenplay)
 1970 Sherlock Holmesin salaisuus (written by)
 1967 Casino Royale (uncredited)
 1966 Onnenonkijat (written by)
 1965 Ates gibi kadin (story "Ball of Fire" - uncredited)
 1964 Suutele minua, tyhmyri (screenplay)
 1962 Kapina laivalla (storyline consultant - uncredited)
 1961 Yks', kaks', kolme (screenplay)
 1960 Kovat kaverit (uncredited)
 1960 Poikamiesboksi (written by)
 1960 Ninotchka (TV Movie) (1939 screenplay)
 1959 Piukat paikat (screenplay)
 1957 Todistaja (screen play)
 1957 Arianen lemmentarina (screenplay)
 1957 Yksinäinen kotka (screen play by)
 1956 Robert Montgomery Presents (TV Series) (story - 1 episode)
- Sunset Boulevard (1956) ... (story)
 1955 Kesäleski (screenplay)
  Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) (previous screenplay - 3 episodes, 1954 - 1955) (film story - 1 episode, 1955)
- Sunset Boulevard (1955) ... (film story) / (previous screenplay)
- Double Indemnity (1954) ... (previous screenplay)
- Hold Back the Dawn (1954) ... (previous screenplay)
 1954 Emil und die Detektive (earlier screenplay - as Billie Wilder)
 1954 Kaunis Sabrina (written for the screen by)
 1953 Vankileiri 17 (written for the screen by)
 1951 Tuhansien silmien edessä (written by)
 1950 Auringonlaskun katu (written by)
 1950 La voyageuse inattendue (screenplay: "Mauvaise graine")
 1948 Professori (based on the story "From A to Z" by)
 1948 Berliinin raunioiden keskellä (screenplay)
 1948 Keisarivalssi (written by)
 1947 Piispan vaimo (uncredited)
 1945 Tuhlattuja päiviä (screen play)
 1944 Nainen ilman omaatuntoa (screenplay)
 1943 Tie Kairoon (screenplay)
 1942 Kadettiheila (written by)
 1942 Tales of Manhattan (uncredited)
 1941 Jään tänne yöksi (from an original story by) / (screen play)
 1941 Yö on liian lyhyt (written by)
 1940 Lentävä reportterimme (screen play)
 1940 Ajan sävel (story)
 1940 Rakasta ranskaksi (treatment - uncredited)
 1939 Ninotchka (screen play)
 1939 What a Life (screenplay)
 1939 Keskiyö (screenplay)
 1938 Lemmen liekki leimahtaa (uncredited)
 1938 Siniparran kahdeksas vaimo (screenplay)
 1937 Samppanjavalssi (story)
 1935 Emil and the Detectives (uncredited)
 1935 Lottery Lover (screenplay)
 1935 Under Pressure (additional dialogue - uncredited)
 1934 Music in the Air (screenplay)
 1934 One Exciting Adventure (story)
 1934 Mauvaise graine (scenario - as Wilder)
 1933 Adorable (story "Ihre Hoheit Befiehlt" - as Billie Wilder)
 1933 Naisten unelma (writer)
 1933 Madame ne veut pas d'enfants (screenplay - as Billie Wilder)
 1933 Madame wünscht keine Kinder (adaptation)
 1932 Un peu d'amour (screenplay)
 1932 Taivaan sini
 1932 Where Is This Lady? (story "Es War Einmal Ein Walzer")
 1932 Un rêve blond (screenplay - as Billie Wilder)
 1932 Der Sieger
 1931 Emil und die Detektive (screenplay - as Billie Wilder)
 1931 Seitensprünge (idea)
 1930 Ihmisiä sunnuntaina (screenplay - as Billie Wilder)
 1929 Der Teufelsreporter (as Billie Wilder)
Show Show Director (27 credits)
Show Show Producer (14 credits)
Show Show Actor (2 credits)
Show Show Soundtrack (1 credit)
Show Show Additional Crew (2 credits)
Show Show Editorial department (1 credit)
Show Show Thanks (16 credits)
Show Show Self (44 credits)
Show Show Archive footage (33 credits)

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Personal Details

Other Works:

The following works were adapted to the Broadway stage: See more »

Publicity Listings:

6 Biographical Movies | 14 Print Biographies | 5 Portrayals | 2 Interviews | 21 Articles | See more »

Alternate Names:

Billie Wilder | Wilder

Height:

5' 11" (1.8 m)

Spouse:

Audrey Young  (his death) | See more »

Children:

Victoria Wilder

Parents:

Max Wilder | Eugenia Wilder

Relatives:

W. Lee Wilder (sibling) | See more »
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

[his thumbnail example of how he pictured existentialism] This boy falls in love with his mother and marries her. They live together quite happily until one day he learns that she isn't his mother. So he commits suicide. See more »

Trivia:

He was asked to direct Sound of Music (1965). He joked that he would have focused on the Nazis. See more »

Trademark:

Films feature a sharp wit and characters who frequently try to change their identity. See more »

Nickname:

The Viennese Pixie

Star Sign:

Cancer
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