Born in Abilene, Kansas. Left school at an early age to join a stock company and eventually came to New York to perform in vaudeville. He began appearing in Edison films in 1912 and over the next few years played both leads and supporting roles in many shorts and one or two serials. During that period he also collaborated on several scripts and made his debut as director in 1915. He joined Essanay late in 1916 and subsequently directed numerous films in a variety of genres for Goldwyn, Fox, Metro, Warners, and MGM, among other studios. Technically efficient and always dependable, he reached the peak of his career in the 20s, when he was entrusted with the direction of such major films as MAIN STREET (1923), THE GOLD DIGGERS (1923), BABBITT (1924), and the prestigious John Barrymore vehicle BEAU BRUMMEL (1924). In 1928 he directed OUR DANCING DAUGHTERS (1928), a silent "musical" on a grand scale, with Joan Crawford heading the cast and dancing the Charleston. The film's great success prompted MGM to assign him to direct their first sound musical film, BROADWAY MELODY (1929), which included a Technicolor sequence. Despite its technical defects, the film reaped tremendous rewards at the box office and an Academy Award as best picture for 1928-29. Beaumont continued directing for MGM through the late 40s, but his talkies were for the most part undistinguished, consisting chiefly of lightweight, run-of-the mill productions.    Nominated for Directing 1928-29: THE BROADWAY MELODY 1 nomination