William Asher | |
|---|---|
 Asher with his second wife, Elizabeth Montgomery, in 1964 | |
| Born | William Milton Asher August 8, 1921 New York City, NY, U.S. |
| Died | July 16, 2012 (aged 90) Palm Desert, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Desert Memorial Park, Cathedral City, California |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1948–1990 |
| Spouses | Meredith Coffin (m. 1998) |
| Children | 6 |
William Milton Asher (August 8, 1921 – July 16, 2012) was an American television and film producer, film director, and screenwriter. He was one of the most prolific early television directors, producing or directing over two dozen series.[1]
With television in its infancy, Asher introduced the sitcom Our Miss Brooks, which was adapted from a radio show. He began directing I Love Lucy by 1952. As a result of his early success, Asher was considered an "early wunderkind of TV-land," and was hyperbolically credited in one magazine article with "inventing" the sitcom. In 1964, he began to direct episodes of Bewitched, which starred his wife Elizabeth Montgomery.[2] He produced the series from the fourth season.
Asher was nominated for an Emmy Award four times, winning once for directing Bewitched in 1966. He was also nominated for the DGA Award in 1951 for I Love Lucy.[3]
- ^ Obituary Los Angeles Times. July 18, 2012.
- ^ Boom, B.W. (January 6, 2006) "William Asher – The Man Who Invented the Sitcom", Palm Springs Life
- ^ "Bill Asher, famed 'I Love Lucy' and 'Bewitched' director, dies in Palm Desert" My Desert July 16, 2012