William Dozier

William Dozier

Deceased · Born: Feb 13, 1908 · Died: Apr 23, 1991

1966

Personal Details

BornFeb 13, 1908 Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Spouse
  • Ann Rutherford

    ( Oct 6, 1953 to Apr 23, 1991 )
  • Joan Fontaine

    ( May 2, 1946 to Jan 25, 1951 )
  • Katherine H. Foley

    ( Sep 14, 1929 to Apr 27, 1946 )

Biography

William Dozier, a distinguished and accomplished American television and movie producer, whose illustrious career culminated in the mid-1960s with the creation and production of the culturally iconic and enduringly popular television series "Batman", which premiered in 1966 and has since become a beloved and recognizable part of American pop culture.

Noted individual, Dozier, entered this world on February 13, 1908, in the vibrant city of Omaha, Nebraska, a place that would later shape the contours of his personal life. His romantic endeavors were marked by a series of significant unions with prominent women. Following the dissolution of his initial marriage, he embarked on a new chapter with Academy Award-winning actress Joan Fontaine, a partnership that lasted from 1946 to 1951. This period was eventually succeeded by a union with Hollywood star Ann Rutherford, a relationship that endured from 1953 until his eventual passing on April 23, 1991.

Noted filmmaker and entrepreneur, Dozier, embarked on a new creative venture in 1948, co-founding Rampart Productions alongside fellow visionary, Fontaine. This innovative production company would go on to produce a plethora of critically acclaimed films, with two of its earliest and most notable projects being the 1948 releases "Letter from an Unknown Woman" and "You Gotta Stay Happy". The latter, featuring the talented Fontaine alongside none other than Hollywood legend James Stewart, showcased Dozier's keen eye for casting and his ability to bring together diverse talents. As executive producer for both movies, Dozier's influence was instrumental in shaping the narrative and artistic direction of these cinematic masterpieces.

As the dawn of the 1950s finally arrived, William Dozier embarked on a new chapter in his illustrious career, shifting his focus from radio to television. This marked the beginning of a fruitful era, as he went on to produce the remarkably enduring series "Danger" (1950-55),which captivated audiences for an impressive five consecutive years.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Dozier continued to cement his status as a television producing powerhouse, consistently delivering high-quality programming to the small screen. His impressive resume during this period boasts the short-lived yet memorable series "Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers" (1953),which may have had a limited run but left a lasting impact on fans. Additionally, his work on "The Loner" (1965) further solidified his reputation as a masterful producer, able to craft compelling stories that resonated with viewers.

William Dozier's professional trajectory reached new heights in the year 1966, as he notched a remarkable achievement with the television series "Batman", which enjoyed a remarkable three-season run and transcended its medium to become a cultural phenomenon of immense proportions. The show's immense popularity led to the creation of a feature film, "Batman: The Movie", which was released in the same year and further cemented Dozier's status as a television mogul.

After the disappointing reception of the 1969 film "The Big Bounce", Dozier decided to bring an end to his career as a producer, marking a significant turning point in his professional journey. However, he was able to find new creative outlets and pursue a second career as an actor, which proved to be moderately successful during the 1970s and early 1980s.

**Person Biography:**

Harry Joe Dozier was an American television producer and actor, best known for his work on the popular 1960s television series "Batman" and "The F.B.I.". Born on September 28, 1929, in Los Angeles, California, Dozier began his career in the entertainment industry as a writer and producer for various television shows and films. He went on to work on numerous notable projects, including the aforementioned "Batman" and "The F.B.I.", before retiring from producing after the release of "The Big Bounce" in 1969. Despite this setback, Dozier continued to work as an actor, appearing in various films and television shows throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.

Career

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1980
American Gigolo
American Gigolo as Michelle's Lawyer
{"id":163612,"title":"Crisis in Mid-air","year":"1979","character":"Chairman","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/crisis-in-mid-air","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_163612.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_163612.jpg"},"released":1}
1979
{"id":204700,"title":"Evening in Byzantium","year":"1978","character":"William Bast","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/evening-in-byzantium","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_204700.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_204700.jpg"},"released":1}
1978
Evening in Byzantium
Evening in Byzantium as William Bast
{"id":200857,"title":"The Father Kino Story","year":"1977","character":"Father Argula","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-father-kino-story","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_200857.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_200857.jpg"},"released":1}
1977
The Father Kino Story
The Father Kino Story as Father Argula
{"id":64372,"title":"The Amazing Howard Hughes","year":"1977","character":"Sen. Ferguson","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-amazing-howard-hughes","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_64372.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_64372.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":164543,"title":"Guilty or Innocent: The Sam Sheppard Murder Case","year":"1975","character":"Dr. Richard Sheppard, Sr.","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/guilty-or-innocent-the-sam-sheppard-murder-case","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_164543.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_164543.jpg"},"released":1}
1975
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1967
Batgirl
Batgirl as Narrator (voice)
{"id":10355,"title":"Batman: The Movie","year":"1966","character":"Narrator \/ Bat-Computer (voice) (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/batman-the-movie","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/3hhtc2hpbi80.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/3hhtc2hpbi80.jpg"},"released":1}
1966
Batman: The Movie
Batman: The Movie as Narrator / Bat-Computer (voice) (uncredited)
{"id":1014,"title":"Batman","year":1966,"character":"Narrator (voice)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/batman","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/1vqsh3o24qg0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/1vqsh3o24qg0.jpg"},"released":1}
Batman
Batman as Narrator (voice)
{"id":10358,"title":"The Green Hornet","year":1966,"character":"Narrator","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/the-green-hornet","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_10358.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_10358.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":170166,"title":"Be Water","year":"2020","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/be-water","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_170166.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_170166.jpg"},"released":1}
2020
{"id":192770,"title":"Hollywood Screen Tests: Take 1","year":"1999","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/hollywood-screen-tests-take-1","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_192770.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_192770.jpg"},"released":1}
1999
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1967
Batgirl
Batgirl as Director, Writer
{"id":1014,"title":"Batman","year":"1966","job":"Creator","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/batman","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/1vqsh3o24qg0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/1vqsh3o24qg0.jpg"},"released":1}
1966
Batman
Batman as Creator