Billy Wilder (I) (1906–2002)

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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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The Spirit of St. Louis
Mon, Apr 26 2:30 AM PDT on TCM (631)
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Won 6 Oscars. Another 48 wins & 59 nominations. See more awards »

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125 photos | 3 videos »

Known For

The Apartment
The Apartment Writer
(1960)
Some Like It Hot
Some Like It Hot Writer
(1959)
Sabrina
Sabrina Writer
(1954)
Sunset Blvd.
Sunset Blvd. Writer
(1950)
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Filmography

Hide Hide Show Show Writer (84 credits)
  Sunset Boulevard (based on the film by) (pre-production)
 2018 La Garçonnière (TV Movie) (original scenario)
 2012 Love, Marilyn (Documentary) (excerpts from letters)
 2008 A Little Anecdote (Short) (idea)
 1995 Sabrina (earlier screenplay)
 1982 Witness for the Prosecution (TV Movie) (1957 screenplay)
 1981 Buddy Buddy
 1978 Fedora (screenplay)
 1974 The Front Page (screenplay)
 1973 Double Indemnity (TV Movie) (1944 screenplay)
 1972 Avanti! (screenplay)
 1967 Casino Royale (uncredited)
 1966 The Fortune Cookie (written by)
 1965 Ates gibi kadin (story "Ball of Fire" - uncredited)
 1964 Kiss Me, Stupid (screenplay)
 1963 Irma la Douce (writer)
 1962 Mutiny on the Bounty (storyline consultant - uncredited)
 1961 One, Two, Three (screenplay)
 1960 Ocean's 11 (uncredited)
 1960 The Apartment (written by)
 1960 Ninotchka (TV Movie) (1939 screenplay)
 1959 Some Like It Hot (screenplay)
 1957 Witness for the Prosecution (screen play)
 1957 Love in the Afternoon (screenplay)
 1957 The Spirit of St. Louis (screen play by)
 1956 Robert Montgomery Presents (TV Series) (story - 1 episode)
- Sunset Boulevard (1956) ... (story)
 1955 The Seven Year Itch (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 Sabrina (written for the screen by)
 1953 Stalag 17 (written for the screen by)
 1951 Ace in the Hole (written by)
 1950 Sunset Blvd. (written by)
 1950 The Unexpected Voyager (screenplay: "Mauvaise graine")
 1948 A Song Is Born (based on the story "From A to Z" by)
 1948 A Foreign Affair (screenplay)
 1948 The Emperor Waltz (written by)
 1947 The Bishop's Wife (uncredited)
 1945 The Lost Weekend (screen play)
 1944 Double Indemnity (screenplay)
 1943 Five Graves to Cairo (screenplay)
 1942 The Major and the Minor (written by)
 1942 Tales of Manhattan (uncredited)
 1941 Ball of Fire (from an original story by) / (screen play)
 1941 Hold Back the Dawn (written by)
 1940 Arise, My Love (screen play)
 1940 Rhythm on the River (story)
 1940 French Without Tears (treatment - uncredited)
 1939 Ninotchka (screen play)
 1939 What a Life (screenplay)
 1939 Midnight (screenplay)
 1938 That Certain Age (uncredited)
 1938 Bluebeard's Eighth Wife (screenplay)
 1937 Champagne Waltz (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 Bad Seed (scenario - as Wilder)
 1933 Adorable (story "Ihre Hoheit Befiehlt" - as Billie Wilder)
 1933 Was Frauen träumen (writer)
 1933 No Children Wanted (screenplay - as Billie Wilder)
 1933 Madame Wants No Children (adaptation)
 1932 Un peu d'amour (screenplay)
 1932 Where Is This Lady? (story "Es War Einmal Ein Walzer")
 1932 Un rêve blond (screenplay - as Billie Wilder)
 1931 Emil and the Detectives (screenplay - as Billie Wilder)
 1931 Seitensprünge (idea)
 1930 People on Sunday (screenplay - as Billie Wilder)
 1929 Hell of a Reporter (as Billie Wilder)
Show Show Director (27 credits)
Show Show Producer (14 credits)
Show Show Actor (2 credits)
Show Show Additional Crew (2 credits)
Show Show Editorial department (1 credit)
Show Show Soundtrack (1 credit)
Show Show Thanks (14 credits)
Show Show Self (47 credits)
Show Show Archive footage (29 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 | 13 Print Biographies | 5 Portrayals | 2 Interviews | 21 Articles | See more »

Alternate Names:

Billie Wilder | Wilder

Height:

5' 11" (1.8 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

[asked what the purpose of making films is] Well, number one, it's too late for me now to change and to become a gardener. Number two is to get away from the house and the vacuum cleaner. I want to be in my office and think. And number three, it's very exciting. I like to tell stories. Ultimately it's interesting. You meet nice people, it's glamorous, and, if you get lucky, very profitable. You ... See more »

Trivia:

His first Hollywood film was The Major and the Minor (1942). See more »

Trademark:

Featured dangerous, manipulative women in his films See more »

Nickname:

The Viennese Pixie

Star Sign:

Cancer
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