US-FILES-BILLY WILDER-THE APARTMENT

(FILES) This undated file photo shows US actors Shirley MacLaine (L) and Jack Lemmon (R front) in a still from 1960 film “The Apartment,” written and directed by Billy Wilder. Austrian-born Wilder died 27 March 2002 of pneumonia at the age of 95 in his Beverly Hills home, industry daily Variety reported 28 March. Wilder was admitted to a local hospital with breathing difficulties in December and died late Wednesday. Wilder, who earned a total of 21 Academy Award nominations throughout his career, worked as a journalist in Berlin before emigrating to Hollywood in 1933 after the rise of Adolph Hitler. AFP PHOTO