Born in Los Angeles, CA. A former film editor with Warner Bros. (DESTINATION TOKYO, TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT, HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN, THE BIG SLEEP, RED RIVER, THE BIG SKY, et al.), he directed only a handful of films. The first of these -- THE THING (FROM ANOTHER WORLD) (1951) -- stands out as a classic of the science-fiction genre, suggesting perhaps the stronger than usual personal involvement of its producer, Howard Hawks, in the directing process. Beginning in the mid-50s, he worked extensively as a director in television ("Lassie," "Gunsmoke," "Wagon Train," "Perry Mason," "Rawhide," "Bonanza," "The Twilight Zone," "I Spy," etc.). Nyby's son, Christian Nyby II (b. 1941), is a prolific director of made-for-TV movies and episodes of TV series.  Nominated for Film Editing 1948: RED RIVER 1 nomination