William Wisher Jr.

William Wisher Jr.
OccupationScreenwriter

William Howard Peter Wisher Jr. is an American screenwriter, known for his work with long-time friend James Cameron on the screenplays for The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day,[1][2] and his work with Caleb Carr on Exorcist: The Beginning and Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist.

Career

Wisher has had roles behind and in front of the camera. In the first Terminator film, Wisher has a brief role as 1L19 (real name unknown), an LAPD police officer who is incapacitated next to his own police cruiser by the Terminator, who then steals his vehicle and briefly assumes his identity on the police radio band. He also has a cameo appearance in Terminator 2: Judgment Day; here he plays a man shopping with his girlfriend and takes pictures of Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800 Terminator getting back on his feet after being thrown through a store window. He also plays news reporter Bill Tyler in Cameron's 1989 film The Abyss.

Wisher's other screenwriting work includes Judge Dredd, The 13th Warrior and both versions of The Exorcist prequel. He is an uncredited script doctor on two films in the Die Hard series, 1995's Die Hard with a Vengeance and 2007's Live Free or Die Hard (on which he also served as executive producer).[3]

Filmography

Year Title Credit Other notes
1984 The Terminator Additional Dialogue also co-wrote the novelization (ISBN 0-553-25317-4)
1989 Desperado: The Outlaw Wars Teleplay
1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day Written by Co-Wrote screenplay with James Cameron
1995 Judge Dredd Story, Screenplay Co-wrote Story with Michael De Luca, Co-wrote Screenplay with Steven E. de Souza
1999 The 13th Warrior Screenplay Co-wrote screenplay with Warren Lewis
2004 Exorcist: The Beginning Story Co-wrote Story with Caleb Carr
2005 Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist Written by Co-written with Caleb Carr
2007 Live Free or Die Hard Executive Producer
2016 I.T. Screenplay, Executive Producer Co-wrote screenplay with Dan Kay[4]
TBA The Englishman Screenplay by based on the 1997 novel "Once a Pilgrim: The True Story of One Man’s Courage Under Rebel Fire" by Will Scully[5][6]
Come Hell or High Water Written by [7][8]

Uncredited revisions

Unmade projects

Acting credits

Year Film Role Notes
1977 The Reunion Unspecified Role
1978 Xenogenesis Raj
1984 The Terminator 1L19 (police officer) Cameo Appearance
1988 Martini Ranch: Reach Music video
1989 The Abyss Bill Tyler
1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day Tourist/Photographer in Galleria Mall Cameo Appearance

References

  1. ^ "William Wisher Interview; Exclusive and Highly in-Depth Chat with the Legendary Screenwriter and Co-writer of 'Terminator 2'". v13.net. May 31, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  2. ^ "William Wisher, Screenwriter". radiogabriel.com. April 29, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  3. ^ "The Strange History of the die Hard Movies". December 2019.
  4. ^ "Pierce Brosnan thriller IT finds director". Digital Spy. August 27, 2014.
  5. ^ "Die Hard 5' Director John Moore on Board 'The Englishman' (EXCLUSIVE)". www.variety.com. August 8, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  6. ^ "John Moore Directing The Englishman". www.empireonline.com. August 8, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  7. ^ "John Moore Directing Come Hell Or High Water". www.empireonline.com. August 8, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  8. ^ "John Moore To Direct WWII Biopic 'Come Hell Or High Water'". Deadline Hollywood. October 29, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  9. ^ "Writers Bio".
  10. ^ "Confessions from the crypt". www.variety.com. January 9, 2001. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  11. ^ "For new battalion of studio pix, war is swell". www.variety.com. March 25, 1997. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  12. ^ "Combat!". www.scriptshadow.net. December 4, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  13. ^ "Combat Movie". www.jodavidsmeyer.com. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  14. ^ "Fox taps Wisher for 'Clipper'". www.variety.com. June 26, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  15. ^ "T2 Scribe Wisher Plans Escape". www.comingsoon.net. June 27, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  16. ^ "John Moore Spies A Pilgrim". www.empireonline.com. October 13, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  17. ^ "John Moore to Direct Pilgrim". www.movieweb.com. October 13, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  18. ^ "Par will show 'Remorse". www.variety.com. October 31, 2000. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  19. ^ "WB puts 'Superman' into the Wisher well". www.variety.com. June 30, 1999. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  20. ^ "Warners Pushing Ahead on Superman Lives". www.ign.com. June 22, 2000. Retrieved September 21, 2023.