
William Wyler
Known for Directing · 22 credits
- Born
- 1902-07-01
- Died
- 1981-07-27
- Place of birth
- Mülhausen, Alsace-Lorraine, German Empire [now Mulhouse, Haut-Rhin, France]
- Also known as
- Wilhelm Weiller · Bill Wyler · 윌리엄 와일러 · 윌리암 와일러
Biography
William Wyler (July 1, 1902 – July 27, 1981) was a German-born film director, producer, and screenwriter. Notable works include Ben-Hur (1959), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), and Mrs. Miniver (1942), all which won Wyler Academy Awards for Best Director, and also won Best Picture. He earned his first Oscar nomination for directing Dodsworth in 1936, sparking a 20-year run of almost unbroken greatness.
Film historian Ian Freer calls Wyler a "bona fide perfectionist," whose penchant for retakes and an attempt to hone every last nuance "became the stuff of legend." His ability to direct a string of classic literary adaptations into huge box office and critical successes made him one of Hollywood's most bankable moviemakers during the 1930s and 1940s.
Known For
TV Shows (5)
Movies (17)

The Best Years of Our Lives
1946
as Drug Store customer (uncredited)
Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film
2002
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Five Came Back
2017
as Self (archive footage)

Dodsworth
1936
as Violin Player in Dance Orchestra (uncredited)

Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema
2005
as Self (archive footage)

Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies
2001
as Self

The Cold Blue
2018
as Himself (archive footage)

Directed by William Wyler
1986
as Self

Sword-and-Sandal: The Story of the Period Epic
2019
as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)

Fun in the Big Country
1958
as Self
The Screen Director
1951
as Self (staged 'archive' footage) (uncredited)

Hollywood's Second World War
2019
as Self (archive footage)

Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic
1993
as Self - Director (archive footage)

Backstory: 'How Green Was My Valley'
2000
as Self (archive footage)

Stars of Cabaret
1956
as Self (archive footage)

Laurence Olivier: a life
1982
as Self

William Wyler: Forty Takes Willy
2025
as Himself (Archival)
About William Wyler
William Wyler (July 1, 1902 – July 27, 1981) was a German-born film director, producer, and screenwriter. Notable works include Ben-Hur (1959), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), and Mrs. Miniver (1942), all which won Wyler Academy Awards for Best Director, and also won Best Picture. He earned his first Oscar nomination for directing Dodsworth in 1936, sparking a 20-year run of almost unbroken greatness. Film historian Ian Freer calls Wyler a "bona fide perfectionist," whose penchant for retakes and an attempt to hone every last nuance "becam… With 22 credits spanning from 1936 to 2025, William Wyler has appeared in 17 films and 5 TV shows.
Fans searching for William Wyler movies, William Wyler filmography, or the latest projects starring William Wyler can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular William Wyler Movies
- The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) — as Drug Store customer (uncredited)
- Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film (2002) — as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Five Came Back (2017) — as Self (archive footage)
- Dodsworth (1936) — as Violin Player in Dance Orchestra (uncredited)
- Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema (2005) — as Self (archive footage)
Where to Watch William Wyler Films
Most William Wyler movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring William Wyler, check our movies catalogue and browse page.




