Born in Grafton, West Virginia. Producer who entered American film as a writer, adapting THE BLACK BAG (1922) at Universal. He had two other writing credits (THE MARRIED FLAPPER and CONFIDENCE, both also 1922) before he directed MORALS FOR MEN (1925) at Tiffany Productions. In 1932, he began producing at MGM, with quite a bit of his work as producer or associate producer going uncredited. Some of the notable films he worked on at Metro include TARZAN THE APE MAN and RASPUTIN AND THE EMPRESS (both 1932), THE BARBARIAN, HOLD YOUR MAN and THE SOLITAIRE MAN (all 1933), THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE, TARZAN AND HIS MATE, STAMBOUL QUEST, THE GIRL FROM MISSOURI and FORSAKING ALL OTHERS (all 1934), AFTER OFFICE HOURS, ONE NEW YORK NIGHT, ESCAPADE and I LIVE MY LIFE (all 1935), SAN FRANCISCO, TARZAN ESCAPES and CAMILLE (all 1936), SARATOGA and CONQUEST (both 1937) and THE GREAT WALTZ (1938).    Nominated for Best Picture 1936: SAN FRANCISCO - Producer (w. John Emerson) 1 nomination