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William Asher (born August 8, 1921) is an American television and film producer, film director, and screenwriter. He was one of the most prolific early directors in the budding television industry, producing or directing over two dozen of the leading television series. With television in its infancy, he introduced the early sitcom Our Miss Brooks, adapted from the radio show, and then became the leading director of I Love Lucy, in 1952, directing most of the episodes over the next 5 years. In 1964 he produced and directed Bewitched, which became one of the leading shows on television, and... MORE

William Asher (born August 8, 1921) is an American television and film producer, film director, and screenwriter. He was one of the most prolific early directors in the budding television industry, producing or directing over two dozen of the leading television series. With television in its infancy, he introduced the early sitcom Our Miss Brooks, adapted from the radio show, and then became the leading director of I Love Lucy, in 1952, directing most of the episodes over the next 5 years. In 1964 he produced and directed Bewitched, which became one of the leading shows on television, and starred his wife, Elizabeth Montgomery. As a result of his early success, he was thought of as an "early wunderkind of TV-land," and is today considered "the man who invented the sitcom." He was nominated four times for an Emmy, winning once for directing Bewitched in 1964. He was also nominated for the DGA award in 1951 for I Love Lucy. Born in New York City, his mother was actress Lillian Bonner and his father was Jewish American producer Ephraim M. Asher, whose film credits include Dracula (1931) and Frankenstein (1931), which he co-produced with Carl Laemmle. His sister, four years his senior, LESS