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.

Known For

The Best Years of Our Lives

as Drug Store customer (uncredited)

Dodsworth

as Violin Player in Dance Orchestra (Uncredited)

The Oscars

as Self

Five Came Back

as Self (archive footage)

The Cold Blue

as Himself (archive footage)

The Ed Sullivan Show

as Self

Great Performances

as Self

Sword-and-Sandal: The Story of the Period Epic

as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)

Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic

as Self - Director (archive footage)

Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema

as Self (archive footage)