Wyler, William (1902-1981), was a motion-picture director whose films have a high artistic quality and wide popular appeal. He won Academy Awards for his directing in Mrs. Miniver (1942), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), and Ben-Hur (1959). His other important films include Dodsworth (1936), Dead End (1937), Jezebel (1938), Wuthering Heights (1939), The Letter (1940), The Little Foxes (1941), The Heiress (1949), Roman Holiday (1953), The Desperate Hours (1955), Friendly Persuasion (1956), The Big Country (1958), and Funny Girl (1968).
Wyler was born on July 1, 1902, in Mulhouse, France. His real name was Willy Wyler. He was a film publicist in Europe before coming to Hollywood in 1920 as an assistant director. Wyler directed his first motion picture in 1925. He became a United States citizen in 1928. Wyler died on July 29, 1981.
