| William Wyler |
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CAREER Wyler was born Wilhelm Weiller to a Jew ish family in Mulhouse in the French region of Alsace (then part of the German Empire ). He was a nephew of Carl Laemmle , founder of Universal Pictures . His family connections served him well, as he became the youngest director on the Universal lot in 1925. He soon proved himself an able craftsman, and in the early 1930s became one of Universal's greatest assets, directing such solid films as '' The Love Trap '', '' Hell's Heroes '', and '' Tom Brown Of Culver ''. He later signed with Samuel Goldwyn and directed such quality films as '' These Three '', '' Come And Get It '', '' Dodsworth '', '' Dead End '', '' Jezebel '', '' Wuthering Heights '', '' The Letter '', '' The Westerner '', and '' The Little Foxes ''. Between 1942 and 1945, Wyler served as a major in the U.S. ''. He also directed two key films which first captured the mood of the nation as it prepared for battle and, four years later, peace. '' Mrs. Miniver '' (1942), a story of a middle class English family adjusting to the war in Europe, helped condition American audiences to life in wartime (and galvanized support for the British). '' The Best Years Of Our Lives '' (1946), the story of three veterans arriving home and adjusting to civilian life, dramatized the problems of returning veterans for those who had remained on the homefront. Wyler won Best Director Oscars for both films (which also won Best Picture Oscars). During the 1950s and 1960s, Wyler directed a handful of critically acclaimed and influential films, most notably '''' in 2003). In 1965, Wyler won the Irving Thalberg 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, ten of Wyler's films earned Best Picture nominations. He won nine Best Director nominations, while three dozen of his actors won Oscars or nominations. On July 24 , 1981 , Wyler gave an interview with his daughter, producer Catherine Wyler for '' Directed By William Wyler '', a PBS documentary about his life and career. A mere three days later, Wyler died from a Heart Attack . Wyler's last words on film concern a vision of directing his "next picture...''Going Home''". Wyler is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale , California . TRIVIA
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