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Top 10 Amazing Facts about William Wyler

William Wyler born Willi Wyler who was born in July 1, 1902 was a Swiss-German-American film director and producer who won the Academy Award for Best Director three times, those being for Mrs. Miniver (1942), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), and Ben-Hur (1959), all of which also won for Best Picture.

In total, he holds a record twelve nominations for the Academy Award for Best Director.Lets take a look at some of the most amazing facts about him;

1.He emigrated to United States in 1921

Born in Alsace, then in Germany, but later part of France, Wyler was a troublemaker in the schools of his youth. He emigrated to United States in 1921, working first for Universal Studios in New York before moving to Los Angeles.

By 1925, he was the youngest director at Universal, and in 1929 he directed Hell’s Heroes, Universal’s first sound production filmed entirely on location. He helped propel a number of actors to stardom, including finding and directing Audrey Hepburn in her debut film. 

2.Wyler was born to a Jewish family 

Wyler was born to a Jewish family. His Swiss-born father, Leopold, started as a traveling salesman but later became a thriving haberdasher in Mulhouse. His mother, Melanie died February 13, 1955, Los Angeles, aged 77), was German-born, and a cousin of Carl Laemmle, founder of Universal Pictures.

During Wyler’s childhood, he attended a number of schools and developed a reputation as “something of a hellraiser”, being expelled more than once for misbehavior. His mother often took him and his older brother Robert to concerts, opera, and the theatre, as well as the early cinema.

Sometimes at home his family and their friends would stage amateur theatricals for personal enjoyment

3.Wyler was not interested in the haberdashery business

Wyler was supposed to inherit the family haberdashery business in Mulhouse, France. After World War I, he spent a dismal year working in Â鶹APP at 100.000 Chemises selling shirts and ties. He was so poor that he often spent his time wandering around the Pigalle district.

After realizing that Wyler was not interested in the haberdashery business, his mother, Melanie, contacted her distant cousin, Carl Laemmle, who owned Universal Studios, about opportunities for him.

4.He helped propel a number of actors to stardom

Actress Audrey Hepburn pictured in Switzerland Photo by Hans Gerber

He helped propel a number of actors to stardom, including finding and directing Audrey Hepburn in her debut film, Roman Holiday (1953), and directing Barbra Streisand in her debut film, Funny Girl (1968), both winning Academy Awards.Olivia de Havilland and Bette Davis both won their second Oscar in Wyler films.

De Havilland for The Heiress (1949) and Davis for Jezebel (1938).Davis said Wyler made her a “far, far better actress” than she had ever been, while Laurence Olivier, who received his first Oscar nomination for Wyler’s Wuthering Heights (1939), credited Wyler with teaching him how to act for the screen.

5.He started his career as an helper before he got his break

An image of Universal Studios sign at the entrance Photo sourced from

Around 1923, Wyler arrived in Los Angeles and began work on the Universal Studios lot in the swing gang, cleaning the stages and moving the sets. His break came when he was hired as a second assistant editor.He could go on to become one of the best but initially he wasn’t serious.

His work ethic was uneven, and he would often sneak off and play billiards in a pool hall across the street from the studio, or organize card games during working hours. After some ups and downs (including getting fired), Wyler focused on becoming a director and put all his effort into it. 

6.He won several awards in his career

Wyler’s films garnered more awards for participating artists and actors than any other director in the history of Hollywood.He received 12 Oscar nominations for Best Director, while dozens of his collaborators and actors won Oscars or were nominated. 

In 1965, Wyler won the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award for career achievement. Eleven years later, he received the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award. In addition to his Best Picture and Best Director Oscar wins, 13 of Wyler’s films earned Best Picture nominations. 

7.He has been honored in the Hollywood walk of fame for his contribution to the industry

Hollywood Walk Of Fame Photo by Alen Istokovic

For his contributions to the motion picture industry, on February 8, 1960, Wyler has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1731 Vine Street.He has also received several honors to his name since and he is remembered as one of the best directors ti ever grace Hollywood. 

In 1961, Wyler was chosen as one of 50 outstanding Americans of meritorious performance in the fields of endeavor, to be honored as a Guest of Honor to the first annual Banquet of the Golden Plate in Monterey, California. Honor was awarded by vote of the National Panel of Distinguished Americans of the Academy of Achievement. 

8.Wyler was married twice in his life and had 5 children

Wyler was married twice in his life, first briefly to actress Margaret Sullavan (from November 25, 1934 – March 13, 1936) and later to actress Margaret “Talli” Tallichet whom he married on October 23, 1938 after leaving Sullavan in 1936.

The couple remained together until his death; they had five children: Catherine, Judith, William Jr., Melanie and David. Catherine said during an interview that her mother played an important part in his career, often being his “gatekeeper” and his reader of scripts presented to him.

9.His net worth is estimated to be around $10 million

William is one of the richest Director & listed on most popular Director. His net worth is estimated to be around $10million. He earned the nicknames 90-Take Wyler and Once-More Wyler for doing a large number of takes when filming scenes.He also was able to receive several endorsements and commercial deals. 

While he had exaggerated over the years about the size of his business, the money he pulled in from his profession real–enough to rank as one of the biggest celebrity cashouts of all time. His Basic income source was mostly from being a successful Actor,Screen writer, Producer and director. 

10.William Wyler died aged 79 in 1989

William Wyler the director whom Bette Davis once described as the most accomplished filmmaker the American cinema ever produced, has died after suffering a heart attack at his Los Angeles home on July 27, 1981 aged 79.

On July 24, 1981, Wyler gave an interview with his daughter, Catherine, for Directed by William Wyler, a PBS documentary about his life and career.Three days later, he died from a heart attack. He is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Wyler is the most nominated director in Academy Awards history with twelve nominations.