
Person
William Wyler
Directing · 1902–1981 · Mülhausen, Alsace-Lorraine, German Empire [now Mulhouse, Haut-Rhin, France]
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

Great Performances
Self

The Oscars
Self

The Ed Sullivan Show
Self

Roman Holiday
Director

Cinépanorama
Self

Ben-Hur
Director

Funny Girl
Director

The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Self

Wuthering Heights
Director

The Big Country
Director
Filmography
- 2025William Wyler: Forty Takes WillyHimself (Archival)
- 2019Hollywood's Second World WarSelf (archive footage)
- 2019Sword-and-Sandal: The Story of the Period EpicSelf - Filmmaker (archive footage)
- 2018The Cold BlueHimself (archive footage)
- 2017Five Came BackSelf (archive footage)
- 2017Five Came BackSelf (archive footage)
- 2016Roman HolidayWriter
- 2011History Rediscovered: The Memphis BelleDirector
- 2006Stardust: The Bette Davis StorySelf (archive footage)
- 2005Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed CinemaSelf (archive footage)
- 2002Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in FilmSelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2001Goldwyn: The Man and His MoviesSelf
- 2000Backstory: 'How Green Was My Valley'Self (archive footage)
- 1993Ben-Hur: The Making of an EpicSelf - Director (archive footage)
- 1986Directed by William WylerSelf
- 1982Laurence Olivier: a lifeSelf
- 1973The American Film Institute Salute to ...Self
- 1971Great PerformancesSelf
- 1970The Liberation of L.B. JonesDirector
- 1968Funny GirlDirector
- 1966How to Steal a MillionDirector
- 1965The CollectorDirector
- 1961The Children's HourDirector
- 1959Ben-HurDirector
- 1958The Big CountryDirector
- 1958Fun in the Big CountrySelf
- 1956Friendly PersuasionDirector
- 1956The LetterDirector
- 1956CinépanoramaSelf
- 1956Stars of CabaretSelf (archive footage)
- 1955The Desperate HoursDirector
- 1953Roman HolidayDirector
- 1953The OscarsSelf
- 1952CarrieDirector
- 1951Detective StoryDirector
- 1951The Screen DirectorSelf (staged 'archive' footage) (uncredited)
- 1949The HeiressDirector
- 1948The Ed Sullivan ShowSelf
- 1947ThunderboltDirector
- 1946The Best Years of Our LivesDrug Store customer (uncredited)
- 1944The Fighting LadyDirector
- 1944The Memphis BelleDirector
- 1942Mrs. MiniverDirector
- 1941The Little FoxesDirector
- 1940The LetterDirector
- 1940The WesternerDirector
- 1939Wuthering HeightsDirector
- 1938The Cowboy and the LadyCo-Director
- 1938JezebelDirector
- 1937Dead EndDirector
- 1936Come and Get ItDirector
- 1936DodsworthViolin Player in Dance Orchestra (uncredited)
- 1936These ThreeDirector
- 1935The Gay DeceptionDirector
- 1935The Good FairyDirector
- 1934GlamourDirector
- 1933Counsellor at LawDirector
- 1933Her First MateDirector
- 1932Tom Brown of CulverDirector
- 1931A House DividedDirector
- 1930The StormDirector
- 1929Hell's HeroesDirector
- 1929The Love TrapDirector
- 1929The ShakedownDirector
- 1928Anybody Here Seen Kelly?Director
- 1928Thunder RidersDirector
- 1927Desert DustDirector
- 1927The Border CavalierDirector
- 1927The Horse TraderDirector
- 1927The Ore RaidersDirector
- 1927Hard FistsDirector
- 1927Straight Shootin'Director
- 1927Blazing DaysDirector
- 1927The Two FisterDirector
- 1926The Stolen RanchDirector
- 1926Lazy LightningDirector
- 1926Martin of the MountedDirector
- 1926Don't ShootDirector
- 1926The Fire BarrierDirector
- 1926Ridin' for LoveDirector
- 1926The Gunless Bad ManDirector
- 1925The Crook BusterDirector
- 1923The Hunchback of Notre DameAssistant Director
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