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.

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Filmography

View Great Performances
Great Performances

Great Performances

1971Series
5.8
View The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948Series
6.8
View The Oscars
The Oscars

The Oscars

1953Series
7.0
View Cinépanorama
Cinépanorama

Cinépanorama

1956Series
8.0
View The American Film Institute Salute to ...
The American Film Institute Salute to ...

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

1973Series
6.3
View The Best Years of Our Lives
The Best Years of Our Lives

The Best Years of Our Lives

1946Film
7.8
View Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema
Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema

Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema

2005Film
6.6
View Directed by William Wyler
Directed by William Wyler

Directed by William Wyler

1986Film0
View Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies
Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies

Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies

2001Film
8.0
View The Screen Director
No Image

The Screen Director

1951Film
6.0
View Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic
Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic

Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic

1993Film
7.4
View Sword-and-Sandal: The Story of the Period Epic
Sword-and-Sandal: The Story of the Period Epic

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

2019Film
7.0