Motion Picture Director. Entering films in 1913 as a prop man, he gradually worked his way up to film editor, cutting such films as "Raffles" (1930) and "Peter Ibbetson" (1935). A director from 1936 on, he was at his best in the thriller and action genres but was also sturdy with A-list material. Heisler guided Susan Hayward ("Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman", 1947) and Bette Davis ("The Star", 1952) to Oscar nominations, and directed such stars as Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, Fred Astaire, and Alan Ladd. From 1956 he was active in television, helming many popular programs, among them "77 Sunset Strip", "Rawhide", "Lawman" and "The Dakotas", before retiring in 1963. He spent his last years on his avocado farm near Carlsbad, California. Heisler's feature credits include "Straight From the Shoulder" (1936),"The Hurricane" (second unit director, 1937), "The Biscuit Eater" (1940), "The Glass Key" (1942), "Along Came Jones" (1945), "Blue Skies" (replacing Mark Sandrich, who died during production, 1946), "Tulsa" (1949), "Chain Lightning" (1950), "I Died a Thousand Times" (1955), "The Lone Ranger" (1956), and "Hitler" (1962).
Motion Picture Director. Entering films in 1913 as a prop man, he gradually worked his way up to film editor, cutting such films as "Raffles" (1930) and "Peter Ibbetson" (1935). A director from 1936 on, he was at his best in the thriller and action genres but was also sturdy with A-list material. Heisler guided Susan Hayward ("Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman", 1947) and Bette Davis ("The Star", 1952) to Oscar nominations, and directed such stars as Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, Fred Astaire, and Alan Ladd. From 1956 he was active in television, helming many popular programs, among them "77 Sunset Strip", "Rawhide", "Lawman" and "The Dakotas", before retiring in 1963. He spent his last years on his avocado farm near Carlsbad, California. Heisler's feature credits include "Straight From the Shoulder" (1936),"The Hurricane" (second unit director, 1937), "The Biscuit Eater" (1940), "The Glass Key" (1942), "Along Came Jones" (1945), "Blue Skies" (replacing Mark Sandrich, who died during production, 1946), "Tulsa" (1949), "Chain Lightning" (1950), "I Died a Thousand Times" (1955), "The Lone Ranger" (1956), and "Hitler" (1962).
Bio by: Fritz Tauber
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