- Known For
- Directing
- Born
- July 1, 1902
- Place of Birth
- Mülhausen, Alsace-Lorraine, German Empire [now Mulhouse, Haut-Rhin, France]
- Died
- July 27, 1981
William Wyler
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.
Filmography
movieWilliam Wyler: Forty Takes Willy
2025 · Himself (Archival)
movieHollywood's Second World War
2019 · Self (archive footage)
movieSword-and-Sandal: The Story of the Period Epic
2019 · Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
movieThe Cold Blue
2018 · Himself (archive footage)
movieFive Came Back
2017 · Self (archive footage)
tvFive Came Back
2017 · Self (archive footage)
movieRoman Holiday
2016 · Writer
movieHistory Rediscovered: The Memphis Belle
2011 · Director
movieStardust: The Bette Davis Story
2006 · Self (archive footage)
movieBen-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema
2005 · Self (archive footage)
Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film
movieReel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film
2002 · Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieGoldwyn: The Man and His Movies
2001 · Self
movieBackstory: 'How Green Was My Valley'
2000 · Self (archive footage)
movieBen-Hur: The Making of an Epic
1993 · Self - Director (archive footage)
movieDirected by William Wyler
1986 · Self
movieLaurence Olivier: a life
1982 · Self
tvThe American Film Institute Salute to ...
1973 · Self
tvGreat Performances
1971 · Self
movieThe Liberation of L.B. Jones
1970 · Director, Producer
movieFunny Girl
1968 · Director
movieHow to Steal a Million
1966 · Director
movieThe Collector
1965 · Director
movieThe Children's Hour
1961 · Director, Producer
movieBen-Hur
1959 · Director
movieThe Big Country
1958 · Director, Producer
movieFun in the Big Country
1958 · Self
movieFriendly Persuasion
1956 · Director, Producer
The Letter
movieThe Letter
1956 · Director, Producer
tvCinépanorama
1956 · Self
movieStars of Cabaret
1956 · Self (archive footage)
movieThe Desperate Hours
1955 · Director, Producer
movieRoman Holiday
1953 · Director, Producer
tvThe Oscars
1953 · Self
movieCarrie
1952 · Director, Producer
movieDetective Story
1951 · Director, Producer
The Screen Director
movieThe Screen Director
1951 · Self (staged 'archive' footage) (uncredited)
movieThe Heiress
1949 · Director, Producer
tvThe Ed Sullivan Show
1948 · Self
movieThunderbolt
1947 · Director
movieThe Best Years of Our Lives
1946 · Drug Store customer (uncredited), Director
movieThe Fighting Lady
1944 · Director
movieThe Memphis Belle
1944 · Director, Writer, Director of Photography
movieMrs. Miniver
1942 · Director, Producer
movieThe Little Foxes
1941 · Director
movieThe Letter
1940 · Director, Producer
movieThe Westerner
1940 · Director
movieWuthering Heights
1939 · Director
movieThe Cowboy and the Lady
1938 · Co-Director
movieJezebel
1938 · Director, Producer
movieDead End
1937 · Director
movieCome and Get It
1936 · Director
movieDodsworth
1936 · Violin Player in Dance Orchestra (uncredited), Director
movieThese Three
1936 · Director
movieThe Gay Deception
1935 · Director
movieThe Good Fairy
1935 · Director
movieGlamour
1934 · Director
movieCounsellor at Law
1933 · Director
movieHer First Mate
1933 · Director
movieTom Brown of Culver
1932 · Director
movieA House Divided
1931 · Director
movieThe Storm
1930 · Director
movieHell's Heroes
1929 · Director
movieThe Love Trap
1929 · Director, Producer
movieThe Shakedown
1929 · Director
movieAnybody Here Seen Kelly?
1928 · Director
movieThunder Riders
1928 · Director
Desert Dust
movieDesert Dust
1927 · Director
movieThe Border Cavalier
1927 · Director
The Horse Trader
movieThe Horse Trader
1927 · Director
The Ore Raiders
movieThe Ore Raiders
1927 · Director
movieHard Fists
1927 · Director
movieStraight Shootin'
1927 · Director
movieBlazing Days
1927 · Director
movieThe Two Fister
1927 · Director
movieThe Stolen Ranch
1926 · Director
movieLazy Lightning
1926 · Director
movieMartin of the Mounted
1926 · Director
movieDon't Shoot
1926 · Director
The Fire Barrier
movieThe Fire Barrier
1926 · Director
movieRidin' for Love
1926 · Director, Story
The Gunless Bad Man
movieThe Gunless Bad Man
1926 · Director
movieThe Crook Buster
1925 · Director
movieThe Hunchback of Notre Dame
1923 · Assistant Director