William C. de Mille.

Born 25 Jul 1878 Washington, United States

Died 5 Mar 1955 Playa del Rey, United States

Citizenship United States

11 min read

Reading time

2,116

Words

Jun 19, 2026

Published

Film credits

Books

Award

TL;DR

William C. de Mille, older brother of Cecil and father of Agnes, hit Broadway with ‘The Warrens of Virginia’ in 1907-1908 for 380 performances. He directed the silent film ‘Conrad in Quest of His Youth’ 1920, which Variety praised as superior to any contemporary direction. From 1929 to 1931 he presided over the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and hosted the first Academy Awards.

Identity & family.

KIN · 7

Names, aliases, and relatives of William C. de Mille — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Nicknames Bill

Aliases William De Mille, William C. DeMille, William Churchill DeMille, William DeMille, William de Mille, William deMille

PARENTS: Beatrice DeMille Henry C. De Mille
SPOUSES: Clara Beranger Anna Angela George
CHILDREN: Agnes de Mille Peggy George
SIBLINGS: Cecil B. DeMille

At a glance.

STATS

William C. de Mille by the numbers — life, work, and family.

76 Years lived

3 Film credits

2 Books

1 Award

2 Marriages

2 Children

Who was William C. de Mille?

BIOGRAPHY

William C. de Mille — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

William C. de Mille was born on July 25, 1878, in Washington, District of Columbia, into a theatrical family. His father, Henry C. De Mille, had six Broadway productions from 1887 to 1890. His mother, Beatrice DeMille, co-wrote The Greatest Thing in the World which debuted on Broadway in 1900. After graduating from Columbia University, de Mille entered the theater.

Career

De Mille’s first play, Strongheart, debuted on January 30, 1905, at the Hudson Theatre and ran for 66 performances. His first major hit was The Warrens of Virginia, produced by David Belasco in 1907, which featured the Broadway debut of Mary Pickford and ran for 380 performances. In 1914, he joined his brother Cecil in Hollywood at Famous Players-Lasky later Paramount Pictures, where he directed, wrote, and produced silent films. His adaptation of Conrad in Quest of His Youth 1920 drew praise from Variety, which called it superior to any contemporary direction. Despite the rise of talkies in the late 1920s, de Mille disparaged them and made fewer films, with his last, His Double Life 1933, co-directed with Arthur Hopkins. He attempted a return to Broadway but was largely unsuccessful, and his 1936 production of Hallowe’en lasted only 12 performances. De Mille served as the second president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 1929 to 1931.

Personal life

De Mille married Anna Angela George, daughter of economist Henry George, on March 30, 1903; they divorced in 1927. The couple had two daughters: Agnes de Mille, who became a choreographer, and Peggy George. On August 13, 1928, he married screenwriter Clara Beranger, who remained his spouse until his death. De Mille also fathered Richard de Mille out of wedlock with actress Lorna Moon; Richard was adopted by his brother Cecil B. DeMille and his wife.

Legacy

As the older brother of Cecil B. DeMille and father of Agnes de Mille, William C. de Mille carved his own path in early Hollywood. He served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 1929 to 1931 and hosted the first Academy Awards ceremony. His silent film Conrad in Quest of His Youth 1920 drew praise from Variety. After his film work, he taught drama at USC, where Sam Peckinpah was a student. De Mille received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Filmography.

FILMS · 3

Browse the complete filmography of William C. de Mille — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

Movie

Hollywood

1923
Movie

A Trip to Paramountown

1922
Movie

The Rose of the Rancho

1914

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 1

Every award, honor, and recognition received by William C. de Mille — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 2

William C. de Mille's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

Strongheart

by William C. De Mille
Amazon

Food

by William C. De Mille

Did you know?

FACTS · 11

Little-known facts about William C. de Mille — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Cecil B. DeMille was his younger brother.
He had two daughters with Anna: Agnes de Mille and Peggy George.
His first wife, Anna George, was the daughter of economist Henry George, author of Progress and Poverty.
He was father-in-law of B.P. Fineman and brother-in-law of Constance Adams.
Out of wedlock, he fathered Richard de Mille with actress Lorna Moon; Richard was adopted by his brother Cecil.
From 1929 to 1931, he served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
He was an alumnus of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Class of 1901.
When his film career declined, he became a drama instructor at USC, where Sam Peckinpah was a student and often clashed with him.
He hosted the first Academy Awards in 1929 alongside Douglas Fairbanks and again in 1930.
His father, Henry Churchill deMille, was born in Washington, Beaufort, North Carolina, with English, German, Scottish, and Dutch ancestry.
His mother, Matilda Beatrice Samuel, was born in Liverpool, England, to a German Jewish family.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 48

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about William C. de Mille.

When was William C. de Mille born?

William C. de Mille was born on July 25, 1878. His birthplace was Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Where was William C. de Mille born?

He was born in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. Despite some sources mentioning North Carolina, his official birth location is Washington, DC.
When did William C. de Mille die?

He died on March 5, 1955. The cause of death remains undisclosed.
Where did William C. de Mille die?

He passed away in Playa del Rey, Los Angeles, California, USA. He was 76 years old.
How old was William C. de Mille when he died?

He was 76 years old at the time of his death on March 5, 1955. His birth date was July 25, 1878.
What was William C. de Mille's cause of death?

The cause of his death is listed as undisclosed. No specific details have been publicly released.
What did William C. de Mille do for a living?

He worked as a director, writer, and producer in theater and film. He began as a Broadway playwright and later moved to Hollywood, where he directed silent films for Paramount Pictures.
What nationality was William C. de Mille?

He was an American. He held citizenship in the United States throughout his life.
What language did William C. de Mille speak?

His native language was English. He was born and raised in the United States.
Who were William C. de Mille's parents?

His parents were Beatrice DeMille and Henry C. De Mille. His father was a playwright with six Broadway productions, and his mother co-wrote a play that appeared on Broadway in 1900.
Who was William C. de Mille married to?

He was married twice. First to Anna Angela George from March 30, 1903, until their divorce in 1927, and then to Clara Beranger from August 13, 1928, until his death.
Did William C. de Mille have children?

Yes, he had two daughters with his first wife: Agnes de Mille and Peggy George. He also fathered an out-of-wedlock son, Richard de Mille, who was adopted by his brother Cecil.
Did William C. de Mille have siblings?

Yes, he had one sibling, younger brother Cecil B. DeMille, who became a Hollywood director. They co-wrote plays such as The Royal Mounted 1908 and After Five 1913.
Where did William C. de Mille go to school?

He attended Columbia University. He also studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, graduating in 1901.
What awards did William C. de Mille win?

He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
How tall was William C. de Mille?

He was 5 feet 10 inches tall, or 1.77 meters. This was his listed height in official records.
Why was William C. de Mille called Bill?

Bill is a common nickname for William. He was known affectionately as Bill by co-workers, who also called him Pop at Paramount.
What other names did William C. de Mille use?

He went by various permutations, including William De Mille, William C. DeMille, William Churchill DeMille, and others. The spelling de Mille was retained by him, unlike his brother Cecil’s DeMille.
What was William C. de Mille's birth name?

His full birth name was William Churchill De Mille. He was named after his father’s family and middle name Churchill.
What was William C. de Mille known for?

He is known for his Broadway plays like The Warrens of Virginia and his silent films such as Conrad in Quest of His Youth and The Ragamuffin. He also served as Academy president.
How many plays did William C. de Mille write?

He wrote several plays, including Strongheart 1905, The Warrens of Virginia 1907, The Woman 1911, and others. His most successful was The Warrens of Virginia, which ran for 380 performances.
Was William C. de Mille involved with the Academy Awards?

Yes, he hosted the first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929 alongside Douglas Fairbanks. He also hosted again in 1930 and served as Academy president from 1929 to 1931.
What was William C. de Mille's relationship with Cecil B. DeMille?

Cecil was his younger brother. They collaborated on plays like The Royal Mounted and After Five. Cecil later adopted William’s out-of-wedlock son, Richard.
Who was William C. de Mille's famous daughter?

His daughter Agnes de Mille became a choreographer who won a Tony Award for Brigadoon in 1947 and revolutionized musical theater with her work on Oklahoma!.
Did William C. de Mille work with Mary Pickford?

Yes, Mary Pickford made her Broadway debut in his play The Warrens of Virginia in 1907. This early collaboration helped launch her career.
What was William C. de Mille's role at Paramount Pictures?

He was a director, writer, and producer at Famous Players-Lasky later Paramount Pictures starting in 1914. He was affectionately called Pop by co-workers.
Why did William C. de Mille stop making films?

He disliked the advent of talkies, considering them inferior to silent films. His last film was His Double Life in 1933, and he chose to retire from filmmaking.
Did William C. de Mille teach at USC?

Yes, after his film career declined, he became a drama instructor at the University of Southern California. One of his students was filmmaker Sam Peckinpah, with whom he often clashed.
What is 'Conrad in Quest of His Youth'?

It is a 1920 silent film directed by William C. de Mille, based on Leonard Merrick’s novel. Variety praised it as better than any film directed by anyone at the time.
Who was William C. de Mille's father-in-law?

His first wife Anna Angela George was the daughter of economist Henry George, author of Progress and Poverty. This connected de Mille to a prominent intellectual family.
Did William C. de Mille have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

Yes, he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The exact location and date are part of his legacy.
What was William C. de Mille's last Broadway play?

His last Broadway credit was Poor Old Jim, performed in repertory at the 1929 Little Theatre Tournament. He attempted a return in 1936 with ‘Hallowe’en’, but it ran only 12 performances.
How did William C. de Mille view talking pictures?

He disparaged talkies as inferior to silent films, a common sentiment among some directors of the era. He believed silent films had reached their artistic peak in the mid-1920s.
What was the first play William C. de Mille wrote?

His first play was Strongheart, which debuted on January 30, 1905, at the Hudson Theatre. It ran for 66 performances before closing in February.
Who produced William C. de Mille's hit play 'The Warrens of Virginia'?

The play was produced by David Belasco. It opened at the Belasco Theatre on December 3, 1907, and later transferred to the Stuyvesant Theatre.
How many performances did 'The Warrens of Virginia' have?

The play ran for a total of 380 performances. It was William C. de Mille’s most successful stage production.
What was the play 'The Woman' about?

The Woman 1911 was a political thriller about scheming representatives and the governor of New York. It focused on how personal power relations affect politics, running for 247 performances.
Did William C. de Mille collaborate with his brother on any plays?

Yes, they co-wrote The Royal Mounted 1908 and After Five 1913. The Royal Mounted was co-directed by Cecil and Cyril Scott but closed after 32 performances.
What was William C. de Mille's role in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences?

He served as the second president of the Academy from 1929 to 1931. He also hosted the first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929.
How many children did William C. de Mille have with his first wife?

He had two daughters with Anna Angela George: Agnes de Mille and Peggy George. Agnes became a choreographer.
Who was Richard de Mille?

Richard de Mille was William’s out-of-wedlock son with actress Lorna Moon. He was adopted by William’s brother Cecil B. DeMille and his wife.
What was William C. de Mille's relationship with Sam Peckinpah?

While teaching at USC, de Mille often clashed with student Sam Peckinpah. Despite the friction, Peckinpah went on to become a film director.
Where did William C. de Mille's mother come from?

His mother, Matilda Beatrice Samuel, was born in Liverpool, England, to a German Jewish family. She later became a playwright and screenwriter.
What was William C. de Mille's ancestry?

He had English, German, Scottish, and Dutch ancestry through his father, Henry Churchill deMille. His mother was of German Jewish descent.
How did William C. de Mille contribute to the silent film era?

He directed and wrote several silent films for Paramount, focusing on intimate stories with strong human values. His work was highly respected, though few of his films survive.
Did William C. de Mille write any screenplays?

Yes, he wrote screenplays for many of his films at Paramount. His mother also wrote a dozen screenplays for the studio from 1916 to 1917.
What was the name of William C. de Mille's last film?

His last film was His Double Life 1933, co-directed with Arthur Hopkins. It was shot in New York.
Was William C. de Mille ever nominated for an Academy Award?

There is no record of an Academy Award nomination for William C. de Mille, though he served as the Academy’s president.

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Sophia has 4 years of editorial experience and a habit of becoming the person any team leans on when they need to know where something stands. At Famousy, she manages the content pipeline, coordinates reviews, and handles the detail work that keeps a large editorial operation from falling apart. She reads a lot of profiles in the process and she's developed a sharp instinct for when something doesn't feel right. She flags it. It usually is.

Published on June 19, 2026

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