Hollywood Giant Robert Wise Passes Away at 91

by | September 15, 2005 | Comments

Master filmmaker and 4-time Oscar winner Robert Wise has died at the age of 91. Probably best known as the director of films like "The Sound of Music," "West Side Story," and "The Haunting," Mr. Wise was also the editor of Orson Welles‘ "The Magnificent Ambersons" and "Citizen Kane."

Wise’s four Oscars were awarded for "The Sound of Music" and "West Side Story" (best director & best picture on both), but he was also nominated for editing "Citizen Kane," directing "I Want to Live!" in 1958, and producing "The Sand Pebbles" in 1966. Recipient of the 1967 Irving J. Thalberg Memorial Award, Mr. Wise also directed films as varied as "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951), "Executive Suite" (1954), "Run Silent Run Deep" (1948), "The Andromeda Strain" (1971), "The Hindenburg" (1975), "Audrey Rose" (1977), and "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (1979).

The Director’s Guild of America awarded Mr. Wise their highest honor, the D.W. Griffith Award, in 1988. He also served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and the DGA.