Personal Info
Known ForDirecting
Born1902-07-01
BirthplaceMülhausen, Alsace-Lorraine, German Empire [now Mulhouse, Haut-Rhin, France]
William Wyler
Directing
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.
Notable Works
Prominent titles featuring William Wyler
Ben-Hur
1959
Funny Girl
1968
Filmography
Acting (19)
2025
William Wyler: Forty Takes Willyas Himself (Archival)
8.0
2019
Hollywood's Second World Waras Self (archive footage)
8.0
2019
Sword-and-Sandal: The Story of the Period Epicas Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
7.0
2018
The Cold Blueas Himself (archive footage)
6.7
2017
Five Came Backas Self (archive footage)
7.9
2006
Stardust: The Bette Davis Storyas Self (archive footage)
6.6
2005
Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinemaas Self (archive footage)
6.5
2002
Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Filmas Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
8.0
2001
8.5
2000
Backstory: 'How Green Was My Valley'as Self (archive footage)
2000
Vivien Leigh: A Delicate Balanceas Self (archive footage)
9.0
1993
Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epicas Self - Director (archive footage)
7.7
1986
Directed by William Wyleras Self
1982
Laurence Olivier: A Lifeas Self
10.0
1958
Fun in the Big Countryas Self
1956
Stars of Cabaretas Self (archive footage)
1951
The Screen Directoras Self (staged 'archive' footage) (uncredited)
7.0
1946
The Best Years of Our Livesas Drug Store customer (uncredited)
7.7
1936
Dodsworthas Violin Player in Dance Orchestra (uncredited)
7.1
Production & Directing (78)
2016
Roman HolidayWriter
2011
1970
The Liberation of L.B. JonesDirector
6.1
1970
The Liberation of L.B. JonesProducer
6.1
1968
Funny GirlDirector
7.1
1966
How to Steal a MillionDirector
7.5
1965
The CollectorDirector
7.4
1961
The Children's HourDirector
7.7
1961
The Children's HourProducer
7.7
1959
Ben-HurDirector
7.9
1958
The Big CountryDirector
7.6
1958
The Big CountryProducer
7.6
1956
Friendly PersuasionDirector
6.6
1956
Friendly PersuasionProducer
6.6
1956
The LetterDirector
1.0
1956
The LetterProducer
1.0
1955
The Desperate HoursDirector
7.0
1955
The Desperate HoursProducer
7.0
1953
Roman HolidayProducer
7.9
1953
Roman HolidayDirector
7.9
1952
CarrieDirector
6.4
1952
CarrieProducer
6.4
1951
Detective StoryDirector
7.0
1951
Detective StoryProducer
7.0
1949
The HeiressDirector
7.8
1949
The HeiressProducer
7.8
1947
ThunderboltDirector
6.2
1946
The Best Years of Our LivesDirector
7.7
1944
The Fighting LadyDirector
6.5
1944
The Memphis BelleDirector
6.7
1944
The Memphis BelleWriter
6.7
1944
The Memphis BelleDirector of Photography
6.7
1942
Mrs. MiniverDirector
7.1
1942
Mrs. MiniverProducer
7.1
1941
The Little FoxesDirector
7.5
1940
The LetterProducer
7.3
1940
The LetterDirector
7.3
1940
The WesternerDirector
7.1
1939
Wuthering HeightsDirector
7.2
1938
The Cowboy and the LadyCo-Director
6.3
1938
JezebelDirector
7.0
1938
JezebelProducer
7.0
1937
Dead EndDirector
7.0
1936
Come and Get ItDirector
6.8
1936
DodsworthDirector
7.1
1936
These ThreeDirector
7.1
1935
The Gay DeceptionDirector
6.4
1935
The Good FairyDirector
7.1
1934
GlamourDirector
4.3
1933
Counsellor at LawDirector
6.5
1933
Her First MateDirector
10.0
1932
Tom Brown of CulverDirector
6.8
1931
A House DividedDirector
5.6
1930
The StormDirector
7.0
1929
Hell's HeroesDirector
7.1
1929
The Love TrapDirector
5.9
1929
The Love TrapProducer
5.9
1929
The ShakedownDirector
5.6
1928
Anybody Here Seen Kelly?Director
8.0
1928
Thunder RidersDirector
7.0
1927
Desert DustDirector
8.0
1927
The Border CavalierDirector
9.0
1927
The Horse TraderDirector
8.0
1927
The Ore RaidersDirector
9.0
1927
Hard FistsDirector
10.0
1927
Straight Shootin'Director
9.0
1927
Blazing DaysDirector
10.0
1927
The Two FisterDirector
6.3
1926
The Stolen RanchDirector
6.1
1926
Lazy LightningDirector
10.0
1926
Martin of the MountedDirector
7.0
1926
Don't ShootDirector
7.0
1926
The Fire BarrierDirector
7.0
1926
Ridin' for LoveDirector
10.0
1926
Ridin' for LoveStory
10.0
1926
The Gunless Bad ManDirector
8.0
1925
The Crook BusterDirector
10.0
1923
The Hunchback of Notre DameAssistant Director
6.5