- Born
- Died
- Birth nameWilliam Alfred Seiter
- Height6′ 1″ (1.85 m)
- Originally a writer and artist, William A. Seiter entered films with Selig. He worked from 1915 as a stunt double and bit player at Keystone and quickly graduated to directing comedy shorts. He moved up to features in the 1920s. He married actress Laura La Plante, who he directed in several films, such as Skinner's Dress Suit (1926), He was at his best, though, in charge of comic teams such as Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy (he directed what many believe to be their finest film, Sons of the Desert (1933)), Bud Abbott and Lou Costello (Little Giant (1946)) and The Marx Brothers.
Most of his early work was under contract to Universal (1924-28) and Warner Brothers (1928-29). He successfully made the transition to sound and remained much in demand for light comedy, working for RKO (1931-34), 20th Century-Fox (1934-38), Universal (1939-41 and again from 1945-49). He retired in 1954. He is perhaps best remembered for "Sons of the Desert" and the musical Roberta (1935) with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.- IMDb mini biography by: A. Nonymous
- SpousesMarian Nixon(August 16, 1934 - July 26, 1964) (his death, 3 children)Laura La Plante(July 24, 1926 - April 18, 1934) (divorced)Marguerite V. Baudouine(March 1, 1910 - September 3, 1915) (divorced, 1 child)
- ChildrenJohn Henry SeiterSelena Alice SeiterJessica Ellen Seiter
- RelativesRobert Seiter(Sibling)Ted Griffin(Grandchild)Nicholas Griffin(Grandchild)
- Entered films in 1915 as a stuntman in westerns.
- Was one of the founding members of the Directors Guild
- He is especially remembered for his handling of comedy. In his long career, he made films with Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey, The Ritz Brothers, Shirley Temple, W.C. Fields, The Marx Brothers, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy and Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.
- Bore a startling resemblance to Oliver Hardy, whom he directed in Sons of the Desert (1933).
- Father of John Henry Seiter (1911-2000).
- Little Giant (1946) - $100,000
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