Biografie

After collaborating closely and happily on the editing of Citizen Kane (1941) with Orson Welles, Wise was assigned to edit Der Glanz des Hauses Amberson (1942). When Welles left the country after finishing that film, RKO wanted Wise to edit it, making changes that Wise knew Welles wouldn't like. He initially refused because of his respect for Welles' vision of the film, but eventually relented and allowed RKO to put him in charge of a drastic editing of "Ambersons" that would result in a new ending and over 40 minutes of Welles' film being lost forever. A furious Welles held that against Wise for more than 40 years, until they reconciled publicly in 1984 by shaking hands on stage when the Directors Guild of America honored Welles with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

He was convinced to accept the position as director of Star Trek - Der Film (1979) by his wife Millicent Wise, who was a huge fan of Raumschiff Enterprise (1966). His wife was also instrumental in convincing him to campaign Leonard Nimoy for the project.

Agreed to direct Meine Lieder, meine Träume (1965) after it had been abandoned by William Wyler on the condition that 20th Century Fox agree to finance Kanonenboot am Yangtse-Kiang (1966). Wise, who also produced the musical, won his second Best Director Oscar and the Best Picture Oscar. The next year, "The Sand Pebbles" was nominated for Best Picture and Wise was awarded the Irving Thalberg Award, the highest honor for producers.

He was the last surviving crew member of Orson Welles' classic Citizen Kane (1941).

Directed nine different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Nina Foch, Susan Hayward, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, Julie Andrews, Peggy Wood, Steve McQueen, Mako and Daniel Massey. Hayward, Moreno and Chakiris won Oscars.