Edwin B. Willis

Who was Edwin B. Willis?

Edwin Booth Willis was an award-winning motion picture set designer and decorator. Willis worked exclusively at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios for his entire career. During his career as a set designer Willis worked on over 600 separate productions. The Internet Movie Database lists his 577 film credits as set decorator, 163 credits as interior decorator and 24 credits as art director. Edwin B. Willis was nominated for the Academy Award in his profession 32 times, in certain years receiving multiple nominations. Willis won the Oscar on eight occasions. He was born in Decatur, Illinois and died of cancer in Hollywood, in 1963. He was survived by his sister, Verna B. Willis, Film Editor for MGM Studios, and niece, Ouida L. Burchfield, hat designer, and designer of Christmas decor sold nationally.