Born in Towanda, Pennslyvania. A former newspaper and magazine cartoonist, he entered films as an animator during WWI and worked with Walter Lantz on such early animated cartoons as "The Katzenjammer Kids" and "Mutt and Jeff." He later served as editor in chief of Hearst International Comic Films, then switched to live-action films in the early 1920s as a director-writer of two-reel comedy shorts and in 1922 became a director of feature films. It was after the advent of sound that he came into his own, acquiring a reputation for his light but firm touch in directing sophisticated comedies, notably the political fantasy GABRIEL OVER THE WHITE HOUSE (1933), the period satire THE AFFAIRS OF CELLINI (1934), the screwball social comedies SHE MARRIED HER BOSS (1935) and MY MAN GODFREY (1936), and the comedy-drama STAGE DOOR (1937), which contemporary critics found superior to the stage play on which it was based. La Cava was known for his ability to overcome weak scripts with his vitality and comic instinct and for his knack of drawing superior performances from actors. However, his straight dramas are far less satisfying than his comedies. His career ended sadly, in a bitter dispute with the Mary Pickford company. Assigned by the company to direct the romantic fantasy ONE TOUCH OF VENUS, starring Ava Gardner, he walked off the set after 11 days of production in a huff over the script. The film was completed by William A. Seiter, who received sole screen credit for the 1948 release. La Cava sued unsuccessfully for breach of contract and never directed another film.    Nominated for Directing 1936: MY MAN GODFREY    Nominated for Directing 1937: STAGE DOOR 2 nominations