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.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (45)
William Wyler: Forty Takes Willy
as Himself (Archival)
2025
Hollywood's Second World War
as Self (archive footage)
2019
Sword-and-Sandal: The Story of the Period Epic
as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
2019
The Cold Blue
as Himself (archive footage)
2018
Five Came Back
as Self (archive footage)
2017
Roman Holiday
Writer (Writing)
2016
History Rediscovered: The Memphis Belle
Director (Directing)
2011
Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema
as Self (archive footage)
2005
Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2002
Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies
as Self
2001
Backstory: 'How Green Was My Valley'
as Self (archive footage)
2000
Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic
as Self - Director (archive footage)
1993
Directed by William Wyler
as Self
1986
Laurence Olivier: a life
as Self
1982
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
Director (Directing)
1970
Funny Girl
Director (Directing)
1968
How to Steal a Million
Director (Directing)
1966
The Collector
Director (Directing)
1965
The Children's Hour
Director (Directing)
1961
Ben-Hur
Director (Directing)
1959
The Big Country
Director (Directing)
1958
Fun in the Big Country
as Self
1958
Friendly Persuasion
Director (Directing)
1956
Stars of Cabaret
as Self (archive footage)
1956
The Desperate Hours
Director (Directing)
1955
Roman Holiday
Producer (Production)
1953
Carrie
Director (Directing)
1952
Detective Story
Director (Directing)
1951
The Screen Director
as Self (staged 'archive' footage) (uncredited)
1951
The Heiress
Director (Directing)
1949
Thunderbolt
Director (Directing)
1947
The Best Years of Our Lives
as Drug Store customer (uncredited)
1946
The Fighting Lady
Director (Directing)
1944
The Memphis Belle
Director (Directing)
1944
Mrs. Miniver
Director (Directing)
1942
The Little Foxes
Director (Directing)
1941
The Letter
Producer (Production)
1940
The Westerner
Director (Directing)
1940
Wuthering Heights
Director (Directing)
1939
The Cowboy and the Lady
Co-Director (Directing)
1938
Jezebel
Director (Directing)
1938
Dead End
Director (Directing)
1937
Come and Get It
Director (Directing)
1936
Dodsworth
as Violin Player in Dance Orchestra (uncredited)
1936
These Three
Director (Directing)
1936
