
William Greaves
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- 8 October 1926 · New York City, New York, USA
- Died
- 25 August 2014
William Greaves (October 8, 1926 – August 25, 2014) was a documentary filmmaker and a pioneer of African-American filmmaking. He produced more than two hundred documentary films, and wrote and directed more than half of these. Greaves garnered many accolades for his work, including four Emmy nominations, one of which he won for his work as executive producer on the African-American news program Black Journal. Description above from the Wikipedia article William Greaves, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known for
Directing 34
- 2026Once Upon a Time in Harlem · director
- 2005Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take 2½ · director
- 2001Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey · director
- 1989Ida B. Wells: A Passion for Justice · director
- 1989That's Black Entertainment · director
- 1988The Deep North · director
- 1988The Best of Black Journal · director
- 1986Black Power in America: Myth or Reality? · director
- 1985Frederick Douglass: An American Life · director
- 1984Fighter for Freedom: The Frederick Douglass Story · director
- 1982Booker T. Washington: The Life and the Legacy · director
- 1981Space For Women · director
- 1979Where Dreams Come True · director
- 1976Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops) · director
- 1975The Marijuana Affair · director
- 1974From These Roots · director
- 1974The Fighters · director
- 1974Whose Standard English? · director
- 1974The Fight · director
- 1974The Fighters · director
- 1972Nationtime: Gary · director
- 1972On Merit · director
- 1971Voice of La Raza · director
- 1969Black Journal: 18 · director
- 1969Black Journal: 9 · director
- 1969In the Company of Men · director
- 1968Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One · director
- 1968Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class · director
- 1966The First World Festival of Negro Arts · director
- 1964Wealth of a Nation · director
- 1960Four Religions · director
- 1959Emergency Ward · director
- 1958Smoke and Weather · director
- 1957Putting It Straight · director
Acting 14
- 2026Once Upon a Time in Harlem as Self (archival footage)
- 2017The Man Who Built Cambodia as Self
- 2007Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson as Self
- 2006Discovering William Greaves as Self
- 2005Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take 2½ as Self
- 1989That's Black Entertainment as Host/Narrator
- 1986Black Power in America: Myth or Reality? as Narrator/Interviewer
- 1968Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One as Self - Director
- 1966The First World Festival of Negro Arts as Narrator
- 1949Souls of Sin as Isaiah 'Alabama' Lee
- 1949Lost Boundaries as Arthur 'Art' Cooper
- 1948Miracle in Harlem as Bert Hallam
- 1948The Fight Never Ends
- 1947Sepia Cinderella as Patron
Writing 17
- 2005Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take 2½ · writer
- 2001Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey · writer
- 1989Ida B. Wells: A Passion for Justice · writer
- 1986Black Power in America: Myth or Reality? · writer
- 1985Frederick Douglass: An American Life · writer
- 1984Fighter for Freedom: The Frederick Douglass Story · screenplay
- 1982Booker T. Washington: The Life and the Legacy · writer
- 1981Space For Women · writer
- 1976Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops) · writer
- 1975The Marijuana Affair · writer
- 1972Nationtime: Gary · writer
- 1971Voice of La Raza · writer
- 1968Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One · writer
- 1966The First World Festival of Negro Arts · writer
- 1964Wealth of a Nation · writer
- 1959High Arctic · writer
- 1958Smoke and Weather · writer
Production 22
- 2005Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take 2½ · producer
- 2001Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey · producer
- 1989Ida B. Wells: A Passion for Justice · producer
- 1988The Deep North · producer
- 1986Black Power in America: Myth or Reality? · producer
- 1985Frederick Douglass: An American Life · producer
- 1984Fighter for Freedom: The Frederick Douglass Story · producer
- 1982Booker T. Washington: The Life and the Legacy · producer
- 1981Space For Women · producer
- 1981Bustin' Loose · executive producer
- 1976Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops) · producer
- 1975The Marijuana Affair · producer
- 1974The Fighters · producer
- 1972Nationtime: Gary · producer
- 1971Voice of La Raza · producer
- 1970Black Journal: 26; Alice Coltrane · producer
- 1970Black Journal: 23; New-Ark · producer
- 1968Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One · producer
- 1968Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class · producer
- 1966The First World Festival of Negro Arts · producer
- 1964Wealth of a Nation · producer
- 1958Smoke and Weather · producer
Editing 21
- 2001Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey · editor
- 1986Black Power in America: Myth or Reality? · editor
- 1985Frederick Douglass: An American Life · editor
- 1982Booker T. Washington: The Life and the Legacy · editor
- 1976Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops) · editor
- 1975The Marijuana Affair · editor
- 1974The Fighters · editor
- 1972Nationtime: Gary · editor
- 1971Voice of La Raza · editor
- 1968Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One · editor
- 1968Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class · editor
- 1966The First World Festival of Negro Arts · editor
- 1964Wealth of a Nation · editor
- 1960Four Religions · editor
- 1959High Arctic · editor
- 1959Emergency Ward · editor
- 1958Blood and Fire · editor
- 1958Smoke and Weather · editor
- 1958Trans Canada Summer · editor
- 1958Islands of the Frozen Sea · editor
- 1957Profile of a Problem Drinker · editor
Camera 3
- 1986Black Power in America: Myth or Reality? · camera operator
- 1982Booker T. Washington: The Life and the Legacy · director of photography
- 1976Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops) · director of photography
crew 8
- 1986Black Power in America: Myth or Reality? · cinematography
- 1982Booker T. Washington: The Life and the Legacy · cinematography
- 1974Every Nigger Is a Star · cinematography
- 1972Nationtime: Gary · cinematography
- 1971Voice of La Raza · cinematography
- 1968Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class · cinematography
- 1966The First World Festival of Negro Arts · cinematography
- 1960Four Religions · cinematography
Sound 5
- 1982Booker T. Washington: The Life and the Legacy · sound
- 1966The First World Festival of Negro Arts · sound
- 1958Trans Canada Summer · sound
- 1955Bush Doctor · sound
- 1955The Dikes · sound




