Born on August 8, 1921, William Asher is the son of Hollywood film producer Ephraim Asher. In the 1930's, Ephraim Asher was responsible for some of the classic Dracula and Frankenstein movies, as well as the highly regarded film, Magnificent Obsession. William Asher worked in various roles in Hollywood, from the mailroom, the screen writer, and director, and his professional career really blossomed after his WWII service with the US Army. His first feature was "The Leather Glove", which he co-wrote and co-produced.
His televsion work as director began in 1950
… More with several early cs, Big Town and Racket Squad, and in early 1952, lands a lucrative position with Desilu Studios. Asher kicks starts the "Our Miss Brooks" tv series, but after 11 episodes, Desi Arnaz moves him to their top show, I Love Lucy. His first "Lucy" show is a huge success, the famous "candy factory" show in which Lucy and Ethel take jobs on a candy assembly line. Bill stays for nearly the remaining run of Lucy, overseeing years of unforgettable television. The birth of Little Ricky, Lucy's escapades in Hollywood, and the final batch of I Love Lucy's where the Ricardo's move to the country. No other director in Lucille Ball's television career would direct her in so many episodes. His flair for orchestrating physical comedy is the hallmark of I Love Lucy. Desi Arnaz was so impressed with Bill Asher, he hardly kicks off a new Desilu production without him in the director's chair. Asher is called in to direct the first dozen crucial segments for shows such as Make Room for Daddy and December Bride.
In the late 1950's, William moved from Desilu to other TV projects, usually as producer. He headed the Jane Wyman Show (Fireside Theater), and he won Dinah Shore and her "Dinah Shore Chevy Show" two major emmy's in 1959. He also re-established his movie career during this period, producing and directing several major film releases. In the early 1960's, he was the director behind nearly all the c beach movies starring Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon. He also produced and directed "Johnny Cool", starring television star Elizabeth Montgomery. The two fell in love, wed in 1963, and decided to develop a tv project together.
Bewitched was the result, an enormously popular and sophisticated television show about a mixed marriage between witch Samantha and mortal Darrin Stephens. The Asher's assembled one of tv's all time great castsand one of the very first ensemble comedy shows in tv history. ABC became the #1 network for key demographics nearly overnight, and began ordering almost 40 episodes a season throughout the show's run. In retrospect, about a dozen shows a season often seemed like filler, diluting that over 26 shows a year were perfection, showcasing top quality comedy that touched on social issues such as feminism, racism, bigotry, materialism, mass hysteria and so much more. These issues were so smoothly created that many viewers hardly noticed. The industry did, however, and awarded Bewitched with nearly 2 dozen emmy nominations. In 1971, Bewitched and the Asher's received the Governor's Award for Excellence for the Television Academy for a Christmas episode regarding bigotry and racism. Burning out after 8 years, the Asher's decided to move on to other projects early in 1972, despite the fact that ABC still wanted 2 more years.
Following Bewitched, William Asher continued to direct and produce. He has brought countless more hours of entertainment to the television audience, with shows such as The Paul Lynde Show, Alice, and The Dukes of Hazzard. After a number of other feature films, Asher wrapped up his tv career with a couple of reunion tv movies, I Still Dream of Jeannie and Green Acres. William Asher is 81 years old, currently residing in Southern California.
