Born in Winchester, IN. Robert Wise was born as the youngest of three brothers. Through an odd job at RKO at the age of 19, the avid moviegoer came into film business. A head sound effects editor at the studio recognized Wise's talent, and made Wise his protégé. After Wise was bored with music and sound editing, he got his first film editing job with WINTERSET (1936), followd by THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1939). Wise made cinematic history at RKO before ever having directed a film, as editor of Orson Welles's CITIZEN KANE (1941) and THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS (1942). Two years later he made an auspicious behind-the-camera debut under the aegis of producer Val Lewton, with the stylish, atmospheric horror film, THE CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE (1944). He then directed THE BODY SNATCHER and GAME OF DEATH (both 1945), CRIMINAL COURT (1946), MYSTERY IN MEXICO and BLOOD ON THE MOON (both 1948) Wise's last film at RKO, the landmark boxing feature THE SET-UP (1949), established him as a leading Hollywood talent. He went on to direct consistently through the mid-1960s for various studios, notably with the sci-fi favorite THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951), the classic submarine drama RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP (1958), the Shakespearean musical update WEST SIDE STORY (1961, also producer) and the eternally popular Julie Andrews vehicle, THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965, also producer). Other credits from this period include THE DESERT RATS and SO BIG (both 1953), EXECUTIVE SUITE (1954), TRIBUTE TO A BAD MAN and SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME (both 1956), I WANT TO LIVE! (1958), ODDS AGAINST TOMORROW (1959, also producer), TWO FOR THE SEESAW (1962), THE HAUNTING (1963, also producer), THE SAND PEBBLES (1966, also producer) and STAR! (1968). From the 1970s Wise directed only a handful of films, mostly big-budget spectacles that haven't measured up to his earlier achievements. These include THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN (1971), TWO PEOPLE (1973), THE HINDENBURG (1975, also producer), AUDREY ROSE (1977), STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979) and ROOFTOPS (1989). Wise served as president of the Directors Guild of American from 1971 until 1975. In 1988, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the DGA, and in 1998, he received the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award. Wise also served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. He was married to actress Patricia Doyle from 1942 until her death in 1975.  Nominated for Film Editing 1941: CITIZEN KANE  Nominated for Directing 1958: I WANT TO LIVE!  Best Picture 1961: WEST SIDE STORY - Producer at Mirisch/B&P Enterprises  Directing 1961: WEST SIDE STORY (w. Jerome Robbins)  Best Picture 1965: THE SOUND OF MUSIC - Producer at Argyle  Directing 1965: THE SOUND OF MUSIC  Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award 1966.  Nominated for Best Picture 1966: THE SAND PEBBLES - Producer at Argyle-Solar 7 nominations, 4 Awards, 1 Honorary Award