William Milton Asher (1921 - 2012)

Born 8 Aug 1921 in New York City, New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery — married 26 Oct 1963 (to about Nov 1973) in Juárez, Nuevo León, Mexico

Died 16 Jul 2012 at age 90 in Palm Desert, Riverside, California, United States

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William Asher is Notable.

Biography

William Milton Asher was an award winning television director and producer. He directed many television shows, including 'I Love Lucy,' and 'Bewitched' His second wife was the actress Elizabeth Montgomery.

William was born 8 August 1921 in New York City,^[1] the son of Ephraim MIlton Asher and Lillian Bonner.

His first wife was Dannie Sue Nolan, whom he married in 1951. They were divorced. His second wife was the actress Elizabeth Montgomery, whom he married in 1963.

"Elizabeth Montgomery, Director Asher Married."^[2]

"Actress Elizabeth Montgomery told friends in Hollywood that she and director William Asher have been married since last October 26. Miss Montgomery, daughter of actor-producer Robert Montgomery, said the wedding took place in Juarez, Mexico. She said they expect a child next summer. "There were personal reasons why we didn't want to make the marriage announcement before," she said. Miss Montgomery, 31, formerly was married to New York Casting director Gallatin Gamman and actor Gig Young. "

William and Elizabeth were divorced November 1973 in Los Angeles, California.^[3]

William died 16 July 2021 in Palm Desert, California.

Obituary:^[4]

William Or Bill Asher, 90 Obituary William Asher, 90, directed 'I Love Lucy,' 'Bewitched'

Houston Chronicle (TX) - Thursday, July 19, 2012

As the director of more than 100 episodes of "I Love Lucy," William Asher considered the first episode he directed to be one of his most memorable: Lucy and Ethel working in a chocolate factory.

But for Asher, who died Monday at 90, his second episode was even more memorable: He put his job on the line after discovering that Lucille Ball was giving cast members stage directions behind the scenes.

He confronted her, she cried, Desi Arnaz screamed at him in Spanish. But Ball and Asher soon made up and worked together for many seasons.

Asher was one of television's most prolific directors. His credits included "Our Miss Brooks," "The Danny Thomas Show," "Gidget" and "Alice." He co-created "The Patty Duke Show," serving as a writer, producer and director.

After Asher married actress Elizabeth Montgomery in 1963, he recalled in a 2005 Seattle Times interview, Montgomery was ready to give up her career.

"She was pregnant with Billy and didn't want to do it anymore," he said. "She was too good to quit. I suggested we do a television show together."

The show, for which he served as a producer and a director, was the hit "Bewitched," starring Montgomery as Samantha, a young witch married to a mortal.

The nose twitch that signaled Samantha was about to perform a feat of witchcraft was something Montgomery did naturally, without being fully aware of it. Asher, charmed by it, pointed it out to her and urged her to put it to good use.

Asher won an Emmy for outstanding directorial achievement in comedy for "Bewitched," which aired from 1964-72; he and Montgomery were divorced in 1973.

During the '60s, Asher directed and co-wrote a string of "beach movies" starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello: "Muscle Beach Party," "Bikini Beach" and "Beach Blanket Bingo." He also directed but did not write the first one, "Beach Party."

"Without him, there was no 'Beach Party,' I'll tell you that," Avalon said Tuesday. "He was a brilliant guy. He had such a flair for comedy, and working with him was such a joy.

"Basically, my character, Frankie, was really Bill Asher. He was truly a surfer - he lived on the beach in Malibu, and he surfed every day."

Sources

1. ↑ "California, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGXB-M624 : 2 March 2020), William Milton Asher, Chino, , California, United States; from "Draft Registration Cards for California, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947." Database and images. Ancestry. (www.ancestry.com : n.d.); citing Draft Registration, Chino, , California, United States, citing NARA Records of the Selective Service System, 1926-1975. Record Group Number 147. NAID: 7644723. Records of the Selective Service System. The National Archives at St. Louis, Missouri, n.d.
2. ↑ Times-Picayune Saturday, Jan 11, 1964 New Orleans, LA Page: 31.
3. ↑ "California Divorce Index, 1966-1984," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPY8-GDW : 15 May 2014), Elizabet Montgomery and William M Asher, Nov 1973; from "California Divorce Index, 1966-1984," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2007); citing Los Angeles City, California, Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento.
4. ↑ Houston Chronicle (Texas) 19 July 2012, obit for Obituary William Asher, 90, directed 'I Love Lucy,' 'Bewitched' , GenealogyBank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/obituaries/obit/14022B9995B59A18-14022B9995B59A18 : accessed 5 September 2021)

• Research by David Zuckerman on June 20, 2014, sources pending.