Born 1902 (age 79) · Mülhausen, Alsace-Lorraine, German Empire [now Mulhouse, Haut-Rhin, France]
Appears in 80 titles

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

Ben-Hur
7.9
Ben-Hur
1959
Director
Roman Holiday
7.9
Roman Holiday
1953
Director
The Best Years of Our Lives
7.8
The Best Years of Our Lives
1946
Director
How to Steal a Million
7.5
How to Steal a Million
1966
Director
Funny Girl
7.2
Funny Girl
1968
Director
The Big Country
7.6
The Big Country
1958
Director
The Children's Hour
7.6
The Children's Hour
1961
Director
Wuthering Heights
7.2
Wuthering Heights
1939
Director
Mrs. Miniver
7.1
Mrs. Miniver
1942
Director
The Heiress
7.8
The Heiress
1949
Director
The Letter
7.3
The Letter
1940
Director
The Collector
7.3
The Collector
1965
Director
Jezebel
7.0
Jezebel
1938
Director
The Little Foxes
7.5
The Little Foxes
1941
Director
The Desperate Hours
7.0
The Desperate Hours
1955
Director
Detective Story
7.0
Detective Story
1951
Director
Dead End
7.0
Dead End
1937
Director
Dodsworth
7.1
Dodsworth
1936
Director
Friendly Persuasion
6.7
Friendly Persuasion
1956
Director
The Westerner
7.1
The Westerner
1940
Director