Biography:Legendary Hollywood film director of such classics as "Ben-Hur" (1959) with Charlton Heston and "Mrs Miniver" (1942) in a long career that spanned 45 years.
He is the Academy Awards most nominated director, earning twelve nominations and winning three for "Mrs Miniver", "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946) and "Ben-Hur" and all of which also won Best Picture.
Known for his discovery of new stars Wyler was instrumental in creating the film careers of Audrey Hepburn, In "Roman Holiday (1954), and Barbra Streisand in "Funny Girl" (1969).
Born: July 1, 1902 Birthplace:Mülhausen, Alsace-Lorraine, German Empire
1938-03-10 "Jezebel" film premieres directed by William Wyler, starring Bette Davis and Henry Fonda, from the play by Owen Davis
1939-03-24 "Wuthering Heights" film based on the Emily Brontë novel, directed by William Wyler and starring Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier, premieres in Los Angeles
1942-06-04 "Mrs Miniver" based on the novel by Jan Struther, directed by William Wyler and starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon is released in the US (Best Picture 1943)
1946-11-21 "The Best Years of Our Lives", film directed by William Wyler, based on MacKinlay Kantor's novella Glory for Me, starring Myrna Loy and Fredric March, is released (Academy Awards Best Picture 1947)
1957-05-17 10th Cannes Film Festival: "Friendly Persuasion" directed by William Wyler wins the Palme d'Or
1959-11-18 "Ben-Hur" directed by William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston premieres in New York City (Academy Awards Best Picture 1960)
1968-09-18 "Funny Girl" biopic film based on life of Fanny Brice premieres, directed by William Wyler, starring Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif
Christopher Nolan
Danny Boyle
David Fincher
Elizabeth Banks
Robert Altman
Roberto Rossellini