William Castle | |
|---|---|
.jpg) William Castle with a fake cockroach, c. 1976 | |
| Born | William Schloss Jr. April 24, 1914 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | May 31, 1977 (aged 63) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Spouse |
Ellen Falck (m. 1948) |
| Children | 2 |
William Castle (born William Schloss Jr.; April 24, 1914 – May 31, 1977) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor.
Orphaned at 11, Castle dropped out of high school at 15 to work in the theater. He came to the attention of Columbia Pictures for his talent for promotion and was hired. He learned the trade of filmmaking and became a director, acquiring a reputation for being able to churn out competent B-movies quickly and on budget. He eventually struck out on his own, producing and directing thrillers, which, despite their low budgets, he effectively promoted using gimmicks, a trademark for which he is best known. He was also the producer for Rosemary's Baby.