Born in Salt Lake City, Utah. At 13 went to work in a silver mine but soon latched on to a touring stage company as a group boy and eventually an actor. In 1912 he arrived in Hollywood and began playing bit parts in Ince films. Before long, he was playing heavies and leads in dozens of Ince Westerns and Mutual comedies. By 1916 he was directing films for Universal. Most of his early efforts were quickie melodramas and Westerns in which he also starred. His first important film, HUMORESQUE (1920), contained many of the elements that would characterize his work in years to come. Along with Clarence Brown, Borzage was Hollywood's great romanticist, an unabashed sentimentalist who told some of the screen's most beautiful love stories with warm, lyrical tenderness. He pioneered in the use of the soft focus, and the gauzed photography of his films, combined with a fluid, caressing camera movement, gave his lovers an idealized halo that contrasted sharply with the selfish, unfeeling world around them. Dismissed by some film historians as a "gushy sentimentalist," Borzage was one of Hollywood's most original artists and one of the most consistent in style. His reputation reached its peak in the late silent and early sound era. With several exceptions, Borzage's films of the 40s and 50s were the least interesting of his illustrious career. Notable directing credits include THE MYSTERY OF YELLOW ASTER MINE (1913), SEVENTH HEAVEN (1927), STREET ANGEL (1928), THE RIVER (1929), BAD GIRL (1931), A FAREWELL TO ARMS (1932), FLIRTATION WALK (1934), HISTORY IS MADE AT NIGHT, BIG CITY and MANNEQUIN (all 1937), THREE COMRADES and THE SHINING HOUR (both 1938), FLIGHT COMMAND (1940), SMILIN' THROUGH (1941), STAGE DOOR CANTEEN and HIS BUTLER'S SISTER (both 1943), TILL WE MEET AGAIN (1944), THE SPANISH MAIN (1945), MOONRISE (1948), CHINA DOLL (1958), THE BIG FISHERMAN (1959) and his last film, L'ATLANTIDE (1961).  Directing 1927-8: SEVENTH HEAVEN  Directing 1931-2: BAD GIRL 2 nominations, 2 Awards