About Robert Wyler
Lived 1900 – 1971 (aged 70). Robert Wyler was an American and Swiss film director, screenwriter, film producer and writer.
Robert Wyler (September 25, 1900 – January 17, 1971) was an American film producer and associate producer. He was the older brother of film director William Wyler and a nephew of Universal Studios head Carl Laemmle.
Wyler was born in Mülhausen, Alsace, Germany (now Mulhouse, Haut-Rhin, France). His first credit was as a producer in 1928, and he made several unsuccessful attempts at directing in the early 1930s.
Wyler found success in the late 1940s and 1950s. He was associate producer of his brother's adaptation of The Heiress (1949), which was nominated for Best Film at the Academy Awards and won its star, Olivia de Havilland, her second Oscar. Wyler was nominated for Best Screenplay for Detective Story (1951), another film directed by his brother and a controversial hit in its day. He was involved as an associate producer on most of his brother's films through the 1950s, such as Roman Holiday (1953) and Friendly Persuasion (1956).
Then 47-year-old Wyler married 24-year-old actress Cathy O'Donnell on April 11, 1948. They had met two years earlier while she was being directed by his brother in The Best Years of Our Lives. She died in 1970 on their 22nd wedding anniversary, following a long illness. Robert Wyler died nine months later on January 17, 1971.
Partial filmography A Father Without Knowing It (1932) The Wonderful Day (1932) It Happened in Paris (1935) The Heiress (1949) Detective Story (1951) Roman Holiday (1953) Friendly Persuasion (1956) The Big Country (1958) The Children's Hour (1961)
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Important facts
Family & relationships
People in Robert Wyler's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Robert Wyler?
American film producer (1900-1971)
When was Robert Wyler born?
Robert Wyler was born on 25 September 1900 in Mulhouse.
When did Robert Wyler die?
Robert Wyler died on 17 January 1971 in Los Angeles.
What was Robert Wyler's occupation?
Robert Wyler was a film director, screenwriter, film producer and writer.
What nationality was Robert Wyler?
Robert Wyler was American and Swiss.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Robert Wyler. https://biography.guide/robert-wyler/
MLA: "Robert Wyler." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/robert-wyler/.
Chicago: "Robert Wyler." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/robert-wyler/.
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