{{short description|American film director}}{{Infobox person | name = Will Zens | birth_date = {{Birth date|1920|06|26}} | birth_place = Milwaukee, WI | death_date = 2013{{!}}03{{!}}27 | death_place = Laguna Hills, CA | occupation = Film producer, director, screenwriter }}
'''Frederick Willard Zens''' (June 26, 1920 – March 27, 2013)<ref>[http://california.obituaries.funeral.com/2013/04/08/frederick-willard-zens/ Obituary notice for Will Zens]</ref> was an American film producer, director, screenwriter and soundtrack composer who worked on mainly low budget films from the 1960s through the 1980s.
== Early life and education == Zens was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Movie master retires to Westlake |url=https://archive.vcstar.com/lifestyle/movie-master-retires-to-westlake-ep-375277462-352834411.html/ |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.vcstar.com |language=en}}</ref> Following service as a test pilot in the U.S. Army Air Force in the European Theatre of Operations, Zens earned his master's degree in film from the University of Southern California (USC).<ref>[http://www.vcstar.com/lifestyle/movie-master-retires-to-westlake-ep-375277462-352834411.html Movie Master Will Zens Retires to Westlake]</ref>
==Career== He made his first film ''Capture That Capsule'' in 1961. Zens did not make another film until ''The Starfighters'' filmed at George Air Force Base that chronicled the F-104 aircraft with Bob Dornan in the lead role. Zens and Dornan next collaborated on a Vietnam War film ''To the Shores of Hell'' made the following year. In 1967 Zens made ''The Road to Nashville'' and ''Hell on Wheels'' but made no more films until ''Hot Summer in Barefoot County'' (1974) and ''Trucker's Woman'' (1975), with his final film, ''The Fix'' in 1985.<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=0954918|name=Will Zens}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Zens, Will}} Category:1920 births Category:2013 deaths Category:Filmmakers from Milwaukee Category:USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni Category:Film directors from Wisconsin Category:American male screenwriters Category:Writers from Milwaukee Category:Screenwriters from Wisconsin Category:Film producers from Wisconsin Category:Films directed by Will Zens