Charles Eli Guggenheim (March 31, 1924 â€" October 9, 2002) was an
American documentary film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was
the most honored documentary filmmaker in the Academy history, winning
four Oscars from twelve nominations.Guggenheim was born in Cincinnati,
Ohio, into a prominent German-Jewish family, the son of Ruth (Stix)
and Jack Albert Guggenheim. His father and grandfather had a furniture
business. He suffered from dyslexia as a child but the condition went
undiagnosed and he was thought to be a "slow learner." He did not
learn to read until the age of nine. While studying farming at
Colorado A&M in 1943, Guggenheim was drafted into the United States
Army assigned to the 106th Division. Due to a severe foot infection,
he avoided active duty in the Battle of the Bulge. Upon discharge from
the service, he finished his college education at University of Iowa
in 1948 and then moved to New York City to pursue a career in
broadcasting.Guggenheim's first job was working for Lew Cohen at CBS,
where he was exposed to the new media of film and storytelling.
American documentary film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was
the most honored documentary filmmaker in the Academy history, winning
four Oscars from twelve nominations.Guggenheim was born in Cincinnati,
Ohio, into a prominent German-Jewish family, the son of Ruth (Stix)
and Jack Albert Guggenheim. His father and grandfather had a furniture
business. He suffered from dyslexia as a child but the condition went
undiagnosed and he was thought to be a "slow learner." He did not
learn to read until the age of nine. While studying farming at
Colorado A&M in 1943, Guggenheim was drafted into the United States
Army assigned to the 106th Division. Due to a severe foot infection,
he avoided active duty in the Battle of the Bulge. Upon discharge from
the service, he finished his college education at University of Iowa
in 1948 and then moved to New York City to pursue a career in
broadcasting.Guggenheim's first job was working for Lew Cohen at CBS,
where he was exposed to the new media of film and storytelling.
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