William Dozier
William Dozier was an American TV and movie producer who made it to the top of the TV heap briefly in the mid-1960s with his show "Batman (1966)". Born on February 13, 1908 in Omaha, Nebraska, Dozier was also known for his wives. After divorcing his first wife, he was married to Oscar-winner Joan Fontaine from 1946 to 1951 and to movie star Ann Rutherford from 1953 to his death on April 23, 1991. In 1948, he and Fontaine launched Rampart Productions, which produced "Max Ophรผls' Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948)" starring his wife, and "You Gotta Stay Happy (1948)", which starred Fontaine and James Stewart. He served as executive producer on both pictures. Turning to TV as the new decade of the Fifties dawned, Dozier produced the series "Danger (1950)", which ran for five years from 1950-55. In the Fifties and Sixties, he continued his career as a TV producer, bringing to the tube the short-lived TV series "Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers (1953)" and "The Loner (1965)". In 1966, he achieved the height of TV success with "Batman" which ran for three seasons and was a cultural sensation. The TV show spun off a "Batman: The Movie (1966)" feature film. That same year, he also launched , a modest success, and "The Tammy Grimes Show (1966)", a notorious flop that shot five episodes and was canceled after four. Dozier retired as a producer after the 1969 movie "The Big Bounce (1969)" flopped, though he enjoyed a modest second career as an actor in the Seventies and early Eighties.
Known For
Credits
- 2020 ยทJoker: Put on a Happy Faceas Self (archive footage)
- 2020 ยทBe Wateras Self (archive footage)
- 1999 ยทHollywood Screen Tests: Take 1as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1987 ยทThe RKO Story: Tales From Hollywoodas Self
- 1982 ยทNot Just Another Affairas Julius Thompkins
- 1980 ยทGuyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jonesas Mr. Caldwell
- 1980 ยทAmerican Gigoloas Michelle's Lawyer
- 1979 ยทCrisis in Mid-Airas Chairman
- 1978 ยทEvening in Byzantiumas William Bast
- 1977 ยทThe Amazing Howard Hughesas Sen. Ferguson
- 1977 ยทEight Is Enoughas
- 1977 ยทMission to Glory: A True Storyas Father Argula
- 1975 ยทGuilty or Innocent: The Sam Sheppard Murder Caseas Dr. Richard Sheppard, Sr.
- 1967 ยทDick Tracy - The Plot To Kill NATOas Narrator (voice)
- 1967 ยทBatgirlas Narrator (voice)
- 1966 ยทThe Green Hornetas Narrator
- 1966 ยทBatmanas Narrator / Bat-Computer (voice) (uncredited)
- 1966 ยทBatmanas Narrator (voice)