Born in Lancaster, Missouri; grew up in Keokuk, Iowa. Prolific playwright, novelist and screenwriter who entered American film in 1914 as a story writer for Vitagraph and other early studios. He adapted many of his plays and novels to the silent screen: ALL FOR A GIRL, THE BIGGER MAN, EXCUSE ME (all 1915), WHAT WILL PEOPLE SAY! (1916), THE GHOSTS OF YESTERDAY, EMPTY POCKETS and WE CAN'T HAVE EVERYTHING (all 1918), THE UNPARDONABLE SIN (1919), THE THIRTEENTH COMMANDMENT and THE CUP OF FURY (both 1920), SOULS FOR SALE (1923) and NO ONE MAN (1932). For a detailed look at Hughes' career, see Kemm on Rupert Hughes on the University of Iowa web site. His nephew was producer-billionaire-eccentric Howard Hughes.    Nominated for Original Story 1927-8: THE PATENT LEATHER KID 1 nomination