Born in New York City. Starting as a wireless telegraph operator at the age of fourteen, he later served as a major in WW I. In association with Sam Warner, Levinson helped bring the first sound to motion pictures in the 1926 film DON JUAN. He also worked with Warner on THE JAZZ SINGER (1927), which received a Special Award from the Academy at the first Award Ceremony in 1929.  Nominated for Sound Recording 1932-33: 42ND STREET  Nominated for Sound Recording 1932-33: GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933  Nominated for Sound Recording 1932-33: I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG  Nominated for Sound Recording 1934: FLIRTATION WALK  Nominated for Sound Recording 1935: CAPTAIN BLOOD  Scientific/Technical Award 1935, as Director of Sound Recording at Warner Bros.- First National Studio. For the method of intercutting variable density and variable area sound tracks to secure an increase in the effective volume range of sound recorded for motion pictures.  Nominated for Sound Recording 1936: BANJO ON MY KNEE (w. E. H. Hansen)  Nominated for Sound Recording 1936: THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE  Nominated for Sound Recording 1937: THE LIFE OF EMILE ZOLA  Nominated for Sound Recording 1938: FOUR DAUGHTERS  Nominated for Sound Recording 1939: THE PRIVATE LIVES OF ELIZABETH AND ESSEX  Nominated for Special Effects 1939: THE PRIVATE LIVES OF ELIZABETH AND ESSEX - Audible effects  Nominated for Sound Recording 1940: THE SEA HAWK  Nominated for Special Effects 1940: THE SEA HAWK - Audible effects  Honorary Award 1940: "For his outstanding service to the industry and the Army during the past nine years, which has made possible the present efficient mobilization of the motion picture industry facilities for the production of Army Training Films." Winner presented a Statuette.  Nominated for Sound Recording 1941: SERGEANT YORK  Nominated for Special Effects 1941: THE SEA WOLF - Audible effects  Sound Recording 1942: YANKEE DOODLE DANDY  Nominated for Special Effects 1942: DESPERATE JOURNEY - Audible effects  Nominated for Sound Recording 1943: THIS IS THE ARMY  Nominated for Special Effects 1943: AIR FORCE - Audible effects  Nominated for Sound Recording 1944: HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN  Nominated for Special Effects 1944: THE ADVENTURES OF MARK TWAIN - Audible effects  Nominated for Sound Recording 1945: RHAPSODY IN BLUE  Nominated for Special Effects 1946: A STOLEN LIFE - Audible effects  Scientific/Technical Award 1947, as Director of Sound Recording at Warner Bros. Studio. For the design and construction of a constant-speed sound editing machine.  Nominated for Sound Recording 1951: A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE - Sound Director 24 nominations, 1 Award, 1 Honorary Award, 2 Scientific/Technical Awards