---
name: "Billy Wilder"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/billy-wilder"
fi1m_id: "billy-wilder"
imdb_id: "nm0000697"
tmdb_id: 3146
wikidata_id: "Q51547"
roles: ["Writer","Director","Producer"]
born: "22 June 1906"
died: "27 March 2002"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 80
average_as: "writer"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-25T04:51:15.259321+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Billy Wilder

## Identity

Billy Wilder

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/billy-wilder
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** billy-wilder
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000697
- **TMDB ID:** 3146
- **Wikidata ID:** Q51547
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Wilder, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q51547, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000697/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3146

Writer and director. Born 22 June 1906 in Sucha, Galicia, Austria-Hungary. Died 27 March 2002.

## Details

- **Work:** Writer, Director, Producer
- **Born:** 22 June 1906, Sucha, Galicia, Austria-Hungary
- **Died:** 27 March 2002
- **Active:** 1939–1974
- **Also known as:** Samuel Wilder, 빌리 와일더, Billie Wilder
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 11: 8 directing, 2 writing, 1 crew
- **Frequently works with:** [Charles Brackett](https://film.one/person/charles-brackett.md), [I. A. L. Diamond](https://film.one/person/i-a-l-diamond.md), [Jack Lemmon](https://film.one/person/jack-lemmon.md), [Arthur Hornblow Jr.](https://film.one/person/arthur-hornblow-jr.md), [Fred MacMurray](https://film.one/person/fred-macmurray.md), [Porter Hall](https://film.one/person/porter-hall.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 6 Oscars (6 won · 15 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 80, as writer, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 82 (1), 1940s 82 (4), 1950s 89 (4), 1960s 91 (1), 1970s 60 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Wilder, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q51547, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000697/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3146

## Streaming the US now

- **Tubi:** [*The Apartment*](https://film.one/film/the-apartment.md) (91), [*Witness for the Prosecution*](https://film.one/film/witness-for-the-prosecution.md) (87)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Some Like It Hot*](https://film.one/film/some-like-it-hot.md) (92)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Ace in the Hole*](https://film.one/film/ace-in-the-hole.md) (87)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Billy Wilder was an Austrian-born American film director, screenwriter and producer. Born Samuel Wilder on 22 June 1906 in Sucha, Galicia, Austria-Hungary, he began his career writing comedy scripts in Germany from 1930. Following the Nazi rise to power, he emigrated to the United States in 1933.

Wilder directed and co-wrote numerous films, including the film noirs *Double Indemnity* (1944) and *Sunset Boulevard* (1950), and the comedies *Some Like It Hot* (1959) and *The Apartment* (1960). He received Academy Awards for producing, directing and writing *The Apartment*. He died on 27 March 2002.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (11)

### Directed (8)

- *The Front Page* (1974), Fi1m 60, Director, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/the-front-page.md)
- *The Apartment* (1960), Fi1m 91, Writer, Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/the-apartment.md)
- *Some Like It Hot* (1959), Fi1m 92, Screenplay, Director, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/some-like-it-hot.md)
- *Witness for the Prosecution* (1957), Fi1m 87, Screenplay, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/witness-for-the-prosecution.md)
- *Ace in the Hole* (1951), Fi1m 87, Writer, Director, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/ace-in-the-hole.md)
- *Sunset Boulevard* (1950), Fi1m 91, Screenplay, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/sunset-boulevard.md)
- *The Lost Weekend* (1945), Fi1m 82, Screenplay, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lost-weekend.md)
- *Double Indemnity* (1944), Fi1m 92, Screenplay, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/double-indemnity.md)

### Wrote (2) — the average rests on these

- *Hold Back the Dawn* (1941), Fi1m 78, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/hold-back-the-dawn.md)
- *Ninotchka* (1939), Fi1m 82, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/ninotchka.md)

### Crew (1)

- *The Bishop's Wife* (1947), Fi1m 74, Additional Writing — [page](https://film.one/film/the-bishops-wife.md)

## Complete filmography (75)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *La Garçonnière* (2018), Original Story
- *The Legacy of 'Some Like It Hot'* (2006), Thanks
- *The Making of 'Some Like It Hot'* (2006), Thanks
- *Sabrina* (1995), Original Film Writer
- *Witness for the Prosecution* (1982), Screenplay
- *Sugar* (1982), Original Film Writer
- *Buddy Buddy* (1981), Director, Writer
- *Fedora* (1978), Director, Writer, Producer
- *That's Entertainment, Part II* (1976), Thanks
- *The Front Page* (1974), Director, Screenplay — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/the-front-page.md)
- *Double Indemnity* (1973), Screenplay
- *Avanti!* (1972), Director, Screenplay, Producer
- *The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes* (1970), Director, Producer, Writer
- *The Legend of Marilyn Monroe* (1966), Actor
- *The Fortune Cookie* (1966), Director, Producer, Writer
- *Kiss Me, Stupid* (1964), Director, Screenplay, Producer
- *Irma la Douce* (1963), Screenplay, Producer, Director
- *One, Two, Three* (1961), Director, Producer, Screenplay
- *The Apartment* (1960), Producer, Director, Writer — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/the-apartment.md)
- *Some Like It Hot* (1959), Director, Producer, Screenplay — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/some-like-it-hot.md)
- *Witness for the Prosecution* (1957), Screenplay, Director — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/witness-for-the-prosecution.md)
- *Love in the Afternoon* (1957), Director, Screenplay, Producer
- *The Spirit of St. Louis* (1957), Director, Screenplay, Producer
- *The Seven Year Itch* (1955), Screenplay, Producer, Director
- *Emil and the Detectives* (1954), Screenplay
- *Sabrina* (1954), Director, Producer, Screenplay
- *Stalag 17* (1953), Producer, Writer, Director
- *Ace in the Hole* (1951), Producer, Director, Writer — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/ace-in-the-hole.md)
- *Sunset Boulevard* (1950), Director, Screenplay — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/sunset-boulevard.md)
- *A Song Is Born* (1948), Story, Original Film Writer
- *A Foreign Affair* (1948), Director, Screenplay
- *The Emperor Waltz* (1948), Director, Writer
- *The Bishop's Wife* (1947), as Additional Writing — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-bishops-wife.md)
- *Masquerade in Mexico* (1945), Original Film Writer
- *The Lost Weekend* (1945), Screenplay, Director — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lost-weekend.md)
- *Death Mills* (1945), Editor, Director
- *Double Indemnity* (1944), Director, Screenplay — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/double-indemnity.md)
- *Five Graves to Cairo* (1943), Screenplay, Director
- *The Major and the Minor* (1942), Writer, Director
- *Ball of Fire* (1941), Original Story, Screenplay
- *Hold Back the Dawn* (1941), Writer — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/hold-back-the-dawn.md)
- *Arise, My Love* (1940), Screenplay
- *Rhythm on the River* (1940), Story
- *Ninotchka* (1939), Screenplay — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/ninotchka.md)
- *What a Life* (1939), Screenplay
- *Midnight* (1939), Screenplay
- *That Certain Age* (1938), Writer
- *Bluebeard's 8th Wife* (1938), Screenplay
- *Champagne Waltz* (1937), Story
- *First Offence* (1936), Original Story
- *Emil and the Detectives* (1935), Screenplay
- *The Lottery Lover* (1935), Screenplay
- *Music in the Air* (1934), Screenplay
- *One Exciting Adventure* (1934), Story
- *Bad Seed* (1934), Director, Writer
- *Adorable* (1933), Writer
- *What Women Dream* (1933), Screenplay
- *Madame Wants No Children* (1933), Screenplay
- *The Blue from the Sky* (1932), Screenplay
- *Where Is This Lady?* (1932), Story
- *Scampolo, ein Kind der Straße* (1932), Writer
- *A Blonde Dream* (1932), Writer
- *Happy Ever After* (1932), Writer
- *Once There Was a Waltz* (1932), Writer
- *The Winner* (1932), Writer
- *Emil and the Detectives* (1931), Screenplay
- *Princess, At Your Orders!* (1931), Writer
- *The Wrong Husband* (1931), Writer
- *Infidelities* (1931), Story
- *Her Grace Commands* (1931), Writer
- *The Man in Search of His Murderer* (1931), Screenplay
- *The fight with the dragon or: The tragedy of the lodger* (1930), Writer
- *People on Sunday* (1930), Screenplay
- *Der Teufelsreporter* (1929), Writer
- *Sunset Boulevard*, Original Film Writer

## Gallery

- ![Photo of American film director Billy Wilder.](https://film.one/media/person/59243/gallery-1b71e58adf3e.jpg) Photo of American film director Billy Wilder. — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Billy_Wilder_photo.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Billy Wilder](https://film.one/media/person/59243/gallery-bda7dc287652.jpg) Billy Wilder — Foto: Galerie Poll Berlin / Ausschnitt: Christoph Waghubinger (Lewenstein), CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/BW1989_crop.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Billy Wilder](https://film.one/media/person/59243/gallery-f4667beb6da6.jpg) Billy Wilder — Image via TMDB
- ![Billy Wilder](https://film.one/media/person/59243/gallery-86448f67c2ba.jpg) Billy Wilder — Image via TMDB
- ![Billy Wilder](https://film.one/media/person/59243/gallery-f23e1aa5ec62.jpg) Billy Wilder — Image via TMDB
- ![Billy Wilder](https://film.one/media/person/59243/gallery-7d6ed8d8a5ea.jpg) Billy Wilder — Image via TMDB
- ![Billy Wilder](https://film.one/media/person/59243/gallery-bff0b6526e01.jpg) Billy Wilder — Image via TMDB
- ![Billy Wilder](https://film.one/media/person/59243/gallery-0c44e38260c1.jpg) Billy Wilder — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 6 won, 15 nominated

- 1967: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *The Fortune Cookie*
- 1961: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (won), for *The Apartment*
- 1961: Best Picture (won), for *The Apartment*
- 1961: Best Director (won), for *The Apartment*
- 1960: Best Director (nominated), for *Some Like It Hot*
- 1960: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated), for *Some Like It Hot*
- 1958: Best Director (nominated), for *Witness for the Prosecution*
- 1955: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated), for *Sabrina*
- 1955: Best Director (nominated), for *Sabrina*
- 1954: Best Director (nominated), for *Stalag 17*
- 1952: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *Ace in the Hole*
- 1951: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (won), for *Sunset Boulevard*
- 1951: Best Director (nominated), for *Sunset Boulevard*
- 1949: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated), for *A Foreign Affair*
- 1946: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (won), for *The Lost Weekend*
- 1946: Best Director (won), for *The Lost Weekend*
- 1945: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated), for *Double Indemnity*
- 1945: Best Director (nominated), for *Double Indemnity*
- 1942: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated), for *Hold Back the Dawn*
- 1942: Best Story (nominated), for *Ball of Fire*
- 1940: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated), for *Ninotchka*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 2 won

- 1995: BAFTA Fellowship (won)
- 1961: Best Film (won), for *The Apartment*

### Golden Globes — 3 won

- 1955: Best Screenplay (won), for *Sabrina*
- 1951: Best Director (won), for *Sunset Boulevard*
- 1946: Best Director (won), for *The Lost Weekend*

### Cannes Film Festival — 1 won

- 1946: Palme d'Or (won), for *The Lost Weekend*

### Berlin International Film Festival — 1 won

- 1993: Berliner Bär (won)

### Other awards — 6 won

- honorary citizen of Vienna 2000: honorary citizen of Vienna (won)
- Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 2000: Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (won)
- Goethe Medal 1994: Goethe Medal (won)
- European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award 1992: European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award (won)
- Kennedy Center Honors 1990: Kennedy Center Honors (won)
- AFI Life Achievement Award 1986: AFI Life Achievement Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/billy-wilder