As one of the most prolific television directors of the early decades, he produced or directed more than two dozen series during his career. His work spanned a wide variety of genres, including science fiction, romantic comedies, and dramas.
He started his career as an editor and assistant cameraman at Universal Studios. He co-directed and co-produced the low-budget boxing melodrama “Leather Gloves” with Cameron Mitchell and Richard Quine. The early 60s brought new projects, including a series of musical pictures. Those films, starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, became hits with teenagers
. Eventually, Asher switched his focus to television, and directed episodes of “Racket Squad” and “Big Town.” He later became the director of “I Love Lucy” for five years.
Bill Asher first met Elizabeth Montgomery on the set of Johnny Bill Asher Cool in 1960. She was cast in the lead role of a gangster’s moll. They divorced in the 1970s. In the late sixties, Mr. Asher was also a producer and director of the television series Bewitched. Asher pushed Montgomery to use her trademark twitching of the nose to conjure spells.
Asher had several relationships with notable personalities. He was a friend of President John F. Kennedy and Frank Sinatra and was close with several celebrities, including actress Elizabeth Montgomery. He married Elizabeth Montgomery in 1963 but the couple divorced in 1973. In later years, Asher married Meredith Coffin McMachen, and they had two daughters. Bill Asher was also blessed with ten grandchildren.
Besides producing and directing films, Asher was also a producer and director in the early days of television. He directed more than two dozen episodes of Bewitched and I Love Lucy. His name was frequently on the credits of these popular US sitcoms. As a result, his name became familiar to millions of TV viewers around the world.
As a businessman, Bill Asher has been involved in the entertainment industry and in real estate. His business acumen allows him to acquire commercial real estate with high profit potential. In addition to his work in entertainment and real estate, Bill Asher is also an expert in the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Massachusetts.
Asher Guitars & Lap Steels is a Los Angeles-based boutique company that is dedicated to producing high-quality instruments and providing superior guitar accessories. Bill Asher, the owner and master craftsman behind Asher Guitars, celebrated 35 years of guitar crafting in 2017. Asher is a sought-after luthier, with a loyal clientele of top musicians
