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William Cran(1946-2025)

  • Producer
  • Director
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Born into a world of wealth and privilege, he devotes his life to eliminating poverty and inequality. A religious leader who traces his ancestry back to the Prophet Muhammad, he struggles to balance the traditional with the modern. His Highness the Aga Khan is the spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, a Shia sect with 15 million followers around the world. At a time when Islam is at odds with itself and with the West, the Aga Khan represents a voice of moderation, speaking out for pluralism and diversity, and promoting dialogue between civilizations. But will he be heard? www.agakhanfilm.org
Play trailer2:04
An Islamic Conscience: The Aga Khan and the Ismailis (2007)
William Cran was born on 11 December 1946 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. He was a producer and director, known for Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy (2002), Red Files (1999) and Timewatch (1982). He was married to Vicki Barker, Polly Bide, Araminta Wordsworth and Stephanie Tepper. He died on 4 June 2025 in London, England, UK.
BornDecember 11, 1946
DiedJune 4, 2025(78)
BornDecember 11, 1946
DiedJune 4, 2025(78)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Add photos, demo reels
  • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
    • 3 wins & 8 nominations total

Known for

Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy (2002)
Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy
8.0
TV Mini Series
  • Producer
Red Files
8.4
TV Series
  • Producer
  • 1999
Timewatch (1982)
Timewatch
7.7
TV Series
  • Producer
An Islamic Conscience: The Aga Khan and the Ismailis (2007)
An Islamic Conscience: The Aga Khan and the Ismailis
8.1
  • Director
  • 2007

Credits

IMDbPro

Producer

  • Frontline (1983)
    Frontline
    8.6
    TV Series
    • senior producer
    • consulting producer
    • producer
    • 1983–2013
  • Do You Speak American? (2005)
    Do You Speak American?
    7.2
    TV Movie
    • producer
    • 2005
  • 1421: The Year China Discovered America? (2004)
    1421: The Year China Discovered America?
    6.4
    TV Movie
    • series producer
    • 2004
  • Extreme Oil
    6.8
    TV Series
    • series producer
    • 2004
  • PG Wodehouse: The Long Exile
    TV Movie
    • executive producer
    • 2003
  • Harem (2003)
    Harem
    TV Mini Series
    • executive producer
    • 2003
  • Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy (2002)
    Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy
    8.0
    TV Mini Series
    • series producer
    • producer
    • 2002
  • Nelson's Trafalgar
    TV Special
    • producer
    • 2002
  • The Real... (1998)
    The Real...
    6.0
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • 2001
  • Apocalypse!
    6.0
    TV Mini Series
    • producer
    • 1999
  • Red Files
    8.4
    TV Series
    • producer
    • series producer
    • 1999
  • The Richest Little Girl in the World
    • producer
    • 1999
  • Ian Hislop in Great Railway Journeys (1994)
    Great Railway Journeys
    7.7
    TV Series
    • producer
    • 1996–1999
  • The Roman Way of War
    TV Movie
    • producer
    • 1998
  • Lenin's Secret Files
    TV Movie
    • producer
    • 1997

Director

  • Lockerbie: What Really Happened?
    • Director
    • 2014
  • An Islamic Conscience: The Aga Khan and the Ismailis (2007)
    An Islamic Conscience: The Aga Khan and the Ismailis
    8.1
    • Director
    • 2007
  • Jihad: The Men and Ideas Behind Al Qaeda (2006)
    Jihad: The Men and Ideas Behind Al Qaeda
    6.3
    TV Movie
    • Director
    • 2006
  • Frontline (1983)
    Frontline
    8.6
    TV Series
    • Director
    • 1983–2006
  • Do You Speak American? (2005)
    Do You Speak American?
    7.2
    TV Movie
    • Director
    • 2005
  • Extreme Oil
    6.8
    TV Series
    • Director
    • 2004
  • Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy (2002)
    Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy
    8.0
    TV Mini Series
    • Director
    • 2002
  • Nelson's Trafalgar
    TV Special
    • Director
    • 2002
  • Apocalypse!
    6.0
    TV Mini Series
    • Director
    • 1999
  • Red Files
    8.4
    TV Series
    • Director
    • 1999
  • Ian Hislop in Great Railway Journeys (1994)
    Great Railway Journeys
    7.7
    TV Series
    • Director
    • 1996–1999
  • The Roman Way of War
    TV Movie
    • Director
    • 1998
  • Lenin's Secret Files
    TV Movie
    • Director
    • 1997
  • The Boer War: The First Media War
    TV Movie
    • Director
    • 1997
  • Timewatch (1982)
    Timewatch
    7.7
    TV Series
    • Director
    • 1991–1997

Writer

  • An Islamic Conscience: The Aga Khan and the Ismailis (2007)
    An Islamic Conscience: The Aga Khan and the Ismailis
    8.1
    • written by
    • 2007
  • Frontline (1983)
    Frontline
    8.6
    TV Series
    • writer
    • narration by
    • Writer
    • 1983–2006
  • Do You Speak American? (2005)
    Do You Speak American?
    7.2
    TV Movie
    • Writer
    • 2005
  • 1421: The Year China Discovered America? (2004)
    1421: The Year China Discovered America?
    6.4
    TV Movie
    • writer
    • 2004
  • Extreme Oil
    6.8
    TV Series
    • writer
    • 2004
  • Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy (2002)
    Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy
    8.0
    TV Mini Series
    • written by
    • 2002
  • Nelson's Trafalgar
    TV Special
    • written by
    • 2002
  • Apocalypse!
    6.0
    TV Mini Series
    • writer
    • 1999
  • Red Files
    8.4
    TV Series
    • writer
    • 1999
  • The Roman Way of War
    TV Movie
    • Writer
    • 1998
  • Lenin's Secret Files
    TV Movie
    • Writer
    • 1997
  • The Boer War: The First Media War
    TV Movie
    • Writer
    • 1997
  • Timewatch (1982)
    Timewatch
    7.7
    TV Series
    • writer
    • Writer
    • 1993–1996
  • Aristotle Onassis: The Golden Greek
    8.3
    TV Movie
    • Writer
    • 1992
  • Yulya's Diary
    TV Movie
    • Writer
    • 1980

Videos1

AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE
Trailer 2:04
AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE

Personal details

  • Official sites
    • France's national library catalogue
    • Gens du
  • Alternative name
    • Bill Cran
  • Born
    • December 11, 1946
    • Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
  • Died
    • June 4, 2025
    • London, England, UK(complications from Parkinson's disease)
  • Spouses
      Vicki BarkerJune 14, 2014 - June 4, 2025 (his death)
  • Parents
      Jean Holliday

Did you know

  • Trivia
    Stage director before working for the BBC.

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