Robert Wise

Robert Wise (September 10, 1914 — September 14, 2005) was an Academy Award-winning American film producer and director.

Related Topics:
September 10 - 1914 - September 14 - 2005 - Academy Award - American

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Born in Winchester, Indiana, Wise began his movie career at RKO as a sound and music editor, but he soon grew to being nominated for the Academy Award for Film Editing for Citizen Kane in 1941. At the time of his death he was that film's only living crew member. He took his first directing job with the stylish horror film The Curse of the Cat People in 1944. In 1949 he directed the boxing movie The Set-Up, where his direction of the real-time setting got him noticed.

Related Topics:
Winchester - Indiana - RKO - Academy Award for Film Editing - Citizen Kane - 1941 - The Curse of the Cat People - 1944 - 1949 - The Set-Up

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In the 1950s, Wise proved adept in several genres, from the science fiction of The Day the Earth Stood Still to the melodramatic So Big, to Susan Hayward's Oscar winner in I Want to Live!, for which he was nominated for Best Director.

Related Topics:
1950s - Science fiction - The Day the Earth Stood Still - So Big - I Want to Live! - Best Director

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In 1961, teamed with Jerome Robbins, he won the Academy Award for Best Director for West Side Story, which he also produced. He repeated this achievement in 1965 with The Sound of Music. In the 1970s he directed such films as The Andromeda Strain, The Hindenburg, the horror film Audrey Rose, and the first Star Trek film, '. In 1989 he directed Rooftops, his last theatrical feature film.

Related Topics:
1961 - Jerome Robbins - Academy Award for Best Director - West Side Story - 1965 - The Sound of Music - The Andromeda Strain - The Hindenburg - Audrey Rose - Star Trek

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Even in his twilight years, Wise continued to be active in productions of DVD versions to his films, even making public appearances promoting those films.

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Wise was a past president of both the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6338 Hollywood Blvd.

Related Topics:
Directors Guild of America - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Hollywood Walk of Fame

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After falling ill, Wise was rushed to UCLA Medical Center, where he died from heart failure, four days after his ninety-first birthday.

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