Reliable Hollywood craftsman who established his reputation in the mid-1950s with a series of intense, morally charged features such as "Bad Day at Black Rock" (1954) and "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" (1957), before moving on to bigger--though not especially better--productions.
Sturges began his career as an editor, co-directed the war documentary, "Thunderbolt" (1945), with William Wyler, and subsequently specialized in action and western features. Other notable films include "The Magnificent Seven" (1960), "The Great Escape" (1963) and--Howard Hughes' favorite movie--"Ice Station Zebra" (1968).
Family
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Daughter: Deborah Lynn Sturges Wyle.
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Son: Michael Eliot Sturges.
Education
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Marin Junior College, San Rafael, California, 1930-32
Milestones
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1932 Worked as assistant in blueprint department, then in art department, RKO-Radio Pictures
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1934 Became assistant film editor, then production assistant for David O. Selznick
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1946 Signed as a director by Columbia; diretorial debut "The Man Who Dared"
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1949 Joined MGM
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1960 Began working on independent productions; co-founded The Mirisch Company
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1977 Directed last film, "The Eagle Has Landed"
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Served as captain in Air Corps during WWII; directed and edited 45 documentaries and training films
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Worked as a film editor