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.
Filmography
Cast Credits
Hollywood's Second World War
Character: Self (archive footage)
MOVIE • 2019
Sword-and-Sandal: The Story of the Period Epic
Character: Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
MOVIE • 2019
The Cold Blue
Character: Himself (archive footage)
MOVIE • 2018
Five Came Back
Character: Self (archive footage)
MOVIE • 2017
Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema
Character: Self (archive footage)
MOVIE • 2005
Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film
Character: Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
MOVIE • 2002
Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies
Character: Self
MOVIE • 2001
Backstory: 'How Green Was My Valley'
Character: Self (archive footage)
MOVIE • 2000
Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic
Character: Self - Director (archive footage)
MOVIE • 1993
Directed by William Wyler
Character: Self
MOVIE • 1986
Laurence Olivier: a life
Character: Self
MOVIE • 1982
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Character: Self
TV • 1973
Great Performances
Character: Self
TV • 1971
Fun in the Big Country
Character: Self
MOVIE • 1958
Cinépanorama
Character: Self
TV • 1956
Stars of Cabaret
Character: Self (archive footage)
MOVIE • 1956
The Oscars
Character: Self
TV • 1953
The Screen Director
Character: Self (staged 'archive' footage) (uncredited)
MOVIE • 1951
The Ed Sullivan Show
Character: Self
TV • 1948
The Best Years of Our Lives
Character: Drug Store customer (uncredited)
MOVIE • 1946
Crew
Crew Credits
Roman Holiday
Role: Writer
MOVIE • 2016
History Rediscovered: The Memphis Belle
Role: Director
MOVIE • 2011
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
Role: Director
MOVIE • 1970
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
Role: Producer
MOVIE • 1970
Funny Girl
Role: Director
MOVIE • 1968
How to Steal a Million
Role: Director
MOVIE • 1966
The Collector
Role: Director
MOVIE • 1965
The Children's Hour
Role: Director
MOVIE • 1961
The Children's Hour
Role: Producer
MOVIE • 1961
Ben-Hur
Role: Director
MOVIE • 1959
The Big Country
Role: Producer
MOVIE • 1958
The Big Country
Role: Director
MOVIE • 1958
Friendly Persuasion
Role: Director
MOVIE • 1956
Friendly Persuasion
Role: Producer
MOVIE • 1956
The Desperate Hours
Role: Producer
MOVIE • 1955
The Desperate Hours
Role: Director
MOVIE • 1955
Roman Holiday
Role: Producer
MOVIE • 1953
Roman Holiday
Role: Director
MOVIE • 1953
Carrie
Role: Director
MOVIE • 1952
Carrie
Role: Producer
MOVIE • 1952