William A. Seiter(1890-1964)
- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Originally a writer and artist, William A. Seiter entered films with
Selig. He worked from 1915 as a stunt double and bit player at Keystone
and quickly graduated to directing comedy shorts. He moved up to
features in the 1920s. He married actress
Laura La Plante, who he directed in
several films, such as
L'habit fait le moine (1926),
He was at his best, though, in charge of comic teams such as
Bert Wheeler and
Robert Woolsey,
Stan Laurel and
Oliver Hardy (he directed what many believe
to be their finest film,
Les compagnons de la Nouba (1933)),
Bud Abbott and
Lou Costello
(Deux nigauds vendeurs (1946)) and
The Marx Brothers.
Most of his early work was under contract to Universal (1924-28) and Warner Brothers (1928-29). He successfully made the transition to sound and remained much in demand for light comedy, working for RKO (1931-34), 20th Century-Fox (1934-38), Universal (1939-41 and again from 1945-49). He retired in 1954. He is perhaps best remembered for "Sons of the Desert" and the musical Roberta (1935) with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
Most of his early work was under contract to Universal (1924-28) and Warner Brothers (1928-29). He successfully made the transition to sound and remained much in demand for light comedy, working for RKO (1931-34), 20th Century-Fox (1934-38), Universal (1939-41 and again from 1945-49). He retired in 1954. He is perhaps best remembered for "Sons of the Desert" and the musical Roberta (1935) with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
