William Spier 6 October 1906 – 30 May 1973) was a writer, producer and director. He is best known for his radio work, such as Suspense and The Adventures of Sam Spade. In addition, he won many awards, including the Writers Guild of America for best script of the year in 1962 for his two-part script for "The Untouchables." He was the recipient of three Peabody awards. He began his career on the editorial staff of Musical America magazine, eventually becoming its chief critic. Mr. Spier's radio career began in 1929, when he produced and directed "The Atwater Kent Radio Hour," an hour-long Sunday night presentation of Metropolitan Opera artists. In 1936, Mr. Spier ceated "The March of Time," which was to become a radio landmark. Among the many stars associated with the program were Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Van Heflin, Agnes Moorehead, Jeannette Nolan, Nancy Kelly and Everett Sloane. Mr. Spier was chief of the writers' department and director of development at CBS in 1940, when he was co-producer of "Suspense" and "Duffy's Tavern." In 1947 he won a Mystery Writers of America award for "The Adventures of Sam Spade." In 1952, Mr. Spier introduced the first 90-minute show, "Omnibus," for CBS. In 1953, he produced "Willy," for his wife, actress June Havoc, under the auspices of Desilu, on CBS. Mr. Spier's knowledge of music was encyclopedic, and he was a skillful and sensitive pianist with a deep love for Chopin. He and Miss Havoc were married in 1947; earlier in that year they met when she was guest-starring on one of his radio shows. Miss Havoc survives him. He was born in New York City, New York; he died at the home he shared with Miss Havoc in Weston, Connecticut.
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