September 15, 2005
The Directors Guild of America mourns yesterday's passing of its former President Robert Wise. Current DGA President Michael Apted said: "Bob's devotion to the craft of filmmaking and his wealth of head-and-heart knowledge about what we do and how we do it was a special gift to his fellow directors. As President of the Guild and as co-founder of the DGA Special Projects Committee, his decades of hands-on leadership were an inspiration to us all. We will deeply miss him."
Wise's service to the DGA is legendary. He served as DGA President from 1971 to 1975; was a founder and chair of the Special Projects Committee for nearly 26 years - from its inception in 1976 to 2001; and served on the National Board of Directors for many years. He was a Guild member for 60 years.
He received the DGA President's Award in 2001 for his leadership to the Guild and the Industry. The Guild honored him with the Honorary Life Member Award in 1983; the first Robert B. Aldrich Award in 1984; and the 1988 Lifetime Achievement Award, which is the Guild's highest tribute to filmmakers. He won both the DGA and Academy Awards for his direction of The Sound of Music and West Side Story.
Wise served the Industry in other capacities as well. He was awarded the Motion Picture Academy's Thalberg Award in 1966, and was President of the Academy from 1985-1988.