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William Wyler Biography

Birth Name:Willi Wyler

Birth Place:Mülhausen, Alsace, Germany

Profession Director, Producer, Actor, Assistant director, Writer, Cinematographer, Editorial department

Fast Facts

  • In 1960, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame due to his contributions to motion pictures
  • Moved to America after being given an opportunity to join the movie business with the help of his cousin, the founder of Universal Pictures Carl Laemmle
  • Started out in Hollywood as a worker who cleaned the stages and moved sets
  • Quote: "I'm here to make good pictures․ If I don't see it, I won't touch it․ I may not make a good picture, but I still gotta believe in it!"
  • Is widely regarded for his free-flowing style of cinematography
  • Was the original director set to work on "The Sound of Music," but decided to pull out of the project
  • Is credited with teaching Laurence Olivier how to act for the screen

Awards

  • 1936NYFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 1937Oscar-Best Director: nominated
  • 1938Mussolini Cup-Best Foreign Film: nominated
  • 1938Special Recommendation-: winner
  • 1940Oscar-Best Director: nominated
  • 1940NYFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 1941Oscar-Best Director: nominated
  • 1942Oscar-Best Director: nominated
  • 1943Oscar-Best Director: winner
  • 1946NBR Award-Best Director: winner
  • 1946NYFCC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 1947Oscar-Best Director: winner
  • 1948Bodil-Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film): winner
  • 1948Crystal Globe-Best Film: nominated
  • 1949BAFTA Film Award-Best Film from any Source 1947: winner
  • 1950Oscar-Best Director: nominated
  • 1950Golden Globe-Best Director: nominated
  • 1952Oscar-Best Director: nominated
  • 1952Grand Prize of the Festival-: nominated
  • 1952DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
  • 1952Golden Lion-: nominated
  • 1953Golden Lion-: nominated
  • 1954Oscar-Best Director: nominated
  • 1954Oscar-Best Picture: nominated
  • 1954DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
  • 1955Kinema Junpo Award-Best Foreign Language Film: nominated
  • 1955Kinema Junpo Award-Best Foreign Language Film: nominated
  • 1955NBR Award-Best Director: winner
  • 1955NYFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 1957Oscar-Best Picture: nominated
  • 1957Oscar-Best Director: nominated
  • 1957Palme d'Or-: winner
  • 1957DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
  • 1959DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
  • 1959Kinema Junpo Award-Best Foreign Language Film: winner
  • 1959NYFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 1960Oscar-Best Director: winner
  • 1960BAFTA Film Award-Best Film from any Source: winner
  • 1960BAFTA Film Award-Best Film from any Source: nominated
  • 1960DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: winner
  • 1960Golden Globe-Best Director: winner
  • 1962DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
  • 1962Golden Globe-Best Director: nominated
  • 1963Kinema Junpo Award-Best Foreign Language Film: nominated
  • 1965Palme d'Or-: nominated
  • 1966Oscar-Best Director: nominated
  • 1966Golden Globe-Best Director: nominated
  • 1966Sant Jordi-Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera): winner
  • 1969DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
  • 1969Golden Globe-Best Director: nominated