Biography
Studio executive/producer William Goetz was one of the first to allow actors to receive a percentage of a film's profits in lieu of a salary. Over his career, Goetz played key roles in developing and maintaining such studios as Fox, its offspring 20th Century Fox, and International Pictures, which in 1946 merged with Universal to become Universal International. His work in the merger promoted Goetz to head of production for the newly created company. Goetz had previously served as a vice president at 20th Century Fox shortly after those two companies fused in 1933.
A college dropout, Goetz entered the movie industry as a production assistant. Marrying the daughter of Louis B. Mayer proved a shrewd move and he was soon promoted. In 1930, Goetz moved to Fox to work as an associate producer. Goetz was elected to 20th Century Fox's board of directors in 1942 and while there spent two years as acting production chief after Darryl Zanuck's departure. Goetz became an independent producer in 1954 with the formation of his self-named production company, which released films through Columbia and Seven Arts. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide