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William A. Wellman

American director, actor (1896-1975) · United States · On the map · Directors · Died at 79

William Augustus Wellman was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, actor and military pilot. He was known for his work in crime, adventure, and action genre films, often focusing on aviation themes, a particular passion. He also directed several well-regarded satirical comedies.

William A. Wellman is read about 155 times a day, in 35 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 104 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

1975Died9 December 19751973The Men Who Made the MoviesSeries1960Star on Hollywood Walk of FameAward1955Blood AlleyFilm, Director1953Island in the SkyFilm, Director1952This Is Your LifeSeries1949BattlegroundFilm, Director1948The Iron CurtainFilm, Director1945Story of G.I. JoeFilm, Director1943Lady of BurlesqueFilm, Director1941The Great Man's LadyFilm, Director, Producer1938Academy Award for Best StoryAward1937Nothing SacredFilm, Director1935Call of the WildFilm, Director1933Frisco JennyFilm, Director1931Night NurseFilm, Director1927WingsFilm, Director19251925 Studio TourFilm1896Born29 February 1896

Known for

View all 40 titles
  • The Ox-Bow Incident 1943
  • The Public Enemy 1931
  • Wings 1927
  • Westward the Women 1951
  • Yellow Sky 1948

People around William

Also in Deutsch Français

Filmography 40

114 credits on file

Television 3

Media & music

Awards

Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame1960
Academy Award for Best Story1938
National Board of Review Award for Best Film

About this person

His 1927 film, Wings, was the first film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture at the 1st Academy Awards ceremony.

Country
United States
Category
Directors
Type
Movie Director
Status
Deceased
Dates
Lived 1896 to 1975 · aged 79

In the same film or series as William

Gene TierneyAlso in The Iron Curtain (1948)Jane WymanAlso in Magic Town (1947)Joan BlondellAlso in Night Nurse (1931)Burgess MeredithAlso in Story of G.I. Joe (1945)

Directors from the United States 1

Ceán Chaffin54.6 of 100