William A. Wellman
Birth Name:
William Augustus Wellman
Birth Place:
Brookline, Massachusetts, United States
Profession
Director, Writer, Producer, Actor, Assistant director
Fast Facts
- Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960
- Won the German Independece Honorary Award from the Oldenburg Film Festival
- Was the great-great-grandson of Francis Lewis, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence
- Was discovered by filmmaker Douglas Fairbanks, who suggested that he become an actor due to his handsome features
- Quote: "The best director is the director whose handprints are not on the film․"
- As a former pilot, he often created films that featured aviation sequences
- Worked with the Norton-Harjes Ambulance Corps as an ambulance driver during World War I
Awards
- 1937Mussolini Cup - Best Foreign Film:Nominated
- 1938Oscar - Best Director:Nominated
- 1938Oscar - Best Writing, Original Story:Winner
- 1943NBR Award - Best Director:Winner
- 1943NYFCC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 1945NYFCC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 1947Grand International AwardNominated
- 1947Grand International AwardNominated
- 1949Special PrizeWinner
- 1950Oscar - Best Director:Nominated
- 1955Oscar - Best Director:Nominated
- 1955DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures:Nominated
- 1996George Sidney Independent Film Competition Winner - Documentary:Winner