William Wyler
Personal Info
Known for
Directing
Gender
Male
Birthday
1902-07-01
Day of Death
1981-07-27 (79 years old)
Place of Birth
Mülhausen, Alsace-Lorraine, German Empire [now Mulhouse, Haut-Rhin, France]
William Wyler
Biography
William Wyler (July 1, 1902 – July 27, 1981) was a German-born film director, producer, and screenwriter. Notable works include Ben-Hur (1959), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), and Mrs. Miniver (1942), all which won Wyler Academy Awards for Best Director, and also won Best Picture. He earned his first Oscar nomination for directing Dodsworth in 1936, sparking a 20-year run of almost unbroken greatness.
Film historian Ian Freer calls Wyler a "bona fide perfectionist," whose penchant for retakes and an attempt to hone every last nuance "became the stuff of legend." His ability to direct a string of classic literary adaptations into huge box office and critical successes made him one of Hollywood's most bankable moviemakers during the 1930s and 1940s.
Acting
(2019)
Hollywood's Second World War
as Self (archive footage)
(2019)
Sword-and-Sandal: The Story of the Period Epic
as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
(2018)
The Cold Blue
as Himself (archive footage)
(2017)
Five Came Back
as Self (archive footage)
(2005)
Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema
as Self (archive footage)
(2002)
Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film
as Self (uncredited archive footage)
(2001)
(2000)
Backstory: 'How Green Was My Valley'
as Self (archive footage)
(1993)
Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic
as Self - Director (archive footage)
(1986)
Directed by William Wyler
as Self
(1958)
Fun in the Big Country
as Self
(1956)
Stars of Cabaret
as Self (archive footage)
(1951)
The Screen Director
as Self (staged 'archive' footage) (uncredited)
(1946)
The Best Years of Our Lives
as Drug Store customer (uncredited)
(1936)
Dodsworth
as Violin Player in Dance Orchestra (Uncredited)
Crew
(2016)
Roman Holiday
Writer
(2011)
(1970)
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
Director, Producer
(1968)
Funny Girl
Director
(1966)
How to Steal a Million
Director
(1965)
The Collector
Director
(1961)
The Children's Hour
Director, Producer
(1959)
Ben-Hur
Director
(1958)
The Big Country
Producer, Director
(1956)
Friendly Persuasion
Director, Producer
(1955)
The Desperate Hours
Producer, Director
(1953)
Roman Holiday
Producer, Director
(1952)
Carrie
Director, Producer
(1951)
Detective Story
Director, Producer
(1949)
The Heiress
Director, Producer
(1947)
Thunderbolt
Director
(1946)
The Best Years of Our Lives
Director
(1946)
Five Came Back: The Reference Films
Director, Writer, Cinematography
(1944)
The Memphis Belle
Director, Writer, Director of Photography
(1944)
The Fighting Lady
Director
(1942)
Mrs. Miniver
Director, Producer
(1941)
The Little Foxes
Director
(1940)
The Westerner
Director
(1940)
The Letter
Director, Producer
(1939)
Wuthering Heights
Director
(1938)
Jezebel
Producer, Director
(1938)
The Cowboy and the Lady
Co-Director
(1937)
Dead End
Director
(1936)
Dodsworth
Director
(1936)
These Three
Director
(1936)
Come and Get It
Director
(1935)
The Good Fairy
Director
(1935)
The Gay Deception
Director
(1934)
Glamour
Director
(1933)
Counsellor at Law
Director
(1933)
Her First Mate
Director
(1932)
Tom Brown of Culver
Director
(1931)
A House Divided
Director
(1930)
The Storm
Director
(1929)
The Love Trap
Director, Producer
(1929)
The Shakedown
Director
(1929)
Hell's Heroes
Director
(1928)
Thunder Riders
Director
(1928)
Anybody Here Seen Kelly?
Director
(1927)
The Two Fister
Director
(1927)
The Horse Trader
Director
(1927)
Straight Shootin'
Director
(1927)
Blazing Days
Director
(1927)
Desert Dust
Director
(1927)
The Border Cavalier
Director
(1927)
Hard Fists
Director
(1927)
The Ore Raiders
Director
(1926)
Ridin' for Love
Director, Story
(1926)
Don't Shoot
Director
(1926)
The Gunless Bad Man
Director
(1926)
Martin of the Mounted
Director
(1926)
The Stolen Ranch
Director
(1926)
The Fire Barrier
Director
(1926)
Lazy Lightning
Director
(1925)
The Crook Buster
Director
(1923)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Assistant Director