William A. Wellman

American film director, born in 1896. A former fighter pilot in World War I, he became one of Hollywood's most versatile directors, working across adventure, crime, and social drama. He directed Wings (1927), the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, and Beggars of Life (1928). His later films include The Public Enemy (1931), A Star Is Born (1937), and The Ox-Bow Incident (1943).