He was born William Blake McEdwards in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of a stage director. He was originally an actor and script-writer (seven Richard Quine film scripts).

His most popular films have been comedies, the alcoholism-themed melodrama Days of Wine and Roses being a notable exception. His most fruitful collaboration has been with Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther movies. Efforts to revive the Panther franchise after the death of Sellers met with little critical or commercial success.

In 2004 he received an Academy Honorary Award for cumulative achievements over the course of his film career. He was also portrayed by John Lithgow in the film The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, documenting comic actor Sellers' life and his friendship with Edwards.

His second wife (from 1969) is Julie Andrews, who has appeared in a number of his films including Darling Lili, 10, Victor/Victoria and the autobiographical satire S.O.B., in which Andrews played a character very similar to herself.