Was studying violin in Paris in 1920 when he met his mother's cousin Carl Laemmle, the head of Universal Pictures, who hired him on the spot
Quickly moved up through the ranks at Universal, from the mail room to the publicity department to assistant director on short films, and finally to features
Was so displeased with the studio's insistence on a happy ending for Wuthering Heights (1939) that he chose not to direct the film's final shots
Intermittent love affair with Bette Davis did not hinder their numerous successful film collaborations, including Jezebel (1938), The Letter (1940) and The Little Foxes (1941)
Helmed a number of documentaries while commissioned as a major in the U
S
Army Air Corps during World War II
A novice production assistant on the 1925 film Ben-Hur, Wyler went on to win a Best Director Oscar for his 1959 version
Received the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award in 1976
Awards
1969Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture:nominated
1968Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film:nominated
1966Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture:nominated
1965Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing:nominated
1962Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture:nominated
1961Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film:nominated
1960BAFTA Film Awards-Best Film and British Film:nominated
1960Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture:winner
1959Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film:winner
1959Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing:winner
1958Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film:nominated
1957Cannes Film Festival-Palme d'Or:winner
1957Golden Globe-Promoting International Understanding:nominated
1956Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year:nominated
1956Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing:nominated
1956Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film:nominated
1955National Board of Review-Best Director:winner
1953Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing:nominated
1953Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year:nominated
1953Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film:nominated
1951Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing:nominated
1951Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film:nominated
1950Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture:nominated
1949Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing:nominated
1946New York Film Critics Circle-Best Director:winner