Name William Spier | Role Writer | |
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Full Name William Hannan Spier Born October 16, 1906 New York City, New York, U.S. Occupation Writer, producer, director Died May 30, 1973, Weston, Connecticut, United States Movies and TV shows Willy (TV series), Lady Possessed Spouse June Havoc (m. 1948–1973), Kay Thompson (m. 1942–1947), Mary Scanlan (m. 1929–1939) Children Margaret Spier, Peter Spier, Greta Spier Awards Edgar Award for Best Radio Drama Similar People June Havoc, Kay Thompson, Stephen Dunne, April Hyde, Gypsy Rose Lee | ||
William Hannan Spier (October 16, 1906 – May 30, 1973) was an American writer, producer, and director for television and radio. He is best known for his radio work, notably Suspense and The Adventures of Sam Spade.
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Born in New York City to a Jewish father and a Presbyterian mother, Spier began his career on the editorial staff of Musical America magazine, eventually becoming its chief critic. He was married to Mary Scanlan, with whom he had three children: Peter (deceased), Greta, and Margaret. He was later married to Kay Thompson from 1942–47, and to June Havoc from 1948 until his death in 1973.
Radio
His radio career began in 1929, when he produced and directed The Atwater Kent Hour, an hour-long Sunday night presentation of Metropolitan Opera artists.
Spier was chief of the writers' department and director of development at CBS in 1940, when he was co-producer of Suspense and Duffy's Tavern. In 1947, he won a Mystery Writers of America award for The Adventures of Sam Spade. A 1949 magazine article said Spier "is generally rated radio's top-notch creator of suspense-type dramas."
Television
In 1952, Spier introduced TV's first 90-minute show, Omnibus, for CBS. In 1953, he produced Willy for his third wife, actress June Havoc under the auspices of Desilu, on CBS. His knowledge of music was encyclopedic, and he was a skillful pianist with a deep love for Chopin. In early 1947, he and Havoc met when she was a guest star on one of his radio shows. They were married from 1947 until his death. He produced Medallion Theatre on NBC in 1953-54.
Death
Spier died, aged 66, at the home he shared with Havoc in Weston, Connecticut.
Awards
Spier won numerous awards, including the Writers Guild of America for best script of the year in 1962 for his two-part script for TV's The Untouchables. He was the recipient of three Peabody Awards.