Born in Budapest, Austria-Hungary (now Hungary); educated at the City College of New York and Columbia University. A playwright and short-story writer, he contributed several successful Hollywood screenplays, alone or in collaboration, including HER PRIVATE AFFAIR (1929), BACK PAY (1930), LITTLE CAESAR, THE RIGHT OF WAY, IRON MAN, TOO YOUNG TO MARRY and FRANKENSTEIN (all 1931), PRESTIGE, THE LAST MAN and UNDER-COVER MAN (all 1932), HAT, COAT AND GLOVE (1934), BECKY SHARP, THE RETURN OF PETER GRIMM and CHASING YESTERDAY (all 1935), DANCING PIRATE (1936), LADY FROM LOUISIANA (1941), THE MAD MARTINDALES (1942), MY FRIEND FLICKA (1943), RENEGADES (1946) and EASY COME, EASY GO (1947).    Nominated for Writing (Adaptation) 1930-31: LITTLE CAESAR (w. Robert N. Lee) 1 nomination