Born in Lindsay, Ontario, Canada. In Hollywood from the late 20s, following a career as an actor, director and playwright on Broadway. Notable writing credits include THE LADY LIES (1929, also play), BARNUM WAS RIGHT (also 1929, play), THE DIVORCÉE (1930), STRANGERS MAY KISS, A FREE SOUL (dialogue, continuity), THE MIRACLE WOMAN, SON OF INDIA, THIS MODERN AGE (add'l dialogue) and THE PHANTOM OF PARIS (all 1931), LETTY LYNTON and WASHINGTON MASQUERADE (dialogue) (both 1932), THE PRIZEFIGHTER AND THE LADY, WHEN LADIES MEET and STAGE MOTHER (all 1933), SADIE McKEE, WHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS and THE PAINTED VEIL (all 1934), I'VE BEEN AROUND and PETER IBBETSON (add'l scenes) (both 1935), HIS BROTHER'S WIFE (1936), MADAME X and STARDUST (both 1937), BOYS TOWN (1938), SEVEN SINNERS (1940), KISMET (1944), VALLEY OF DECISION (1945) and his last film, THREE DARING DAUGHTERS (a.k.a. THE BIRDS AND THE BEES, 1948).    Nominated for Writing 1929-30: THE DIVORCÉE    Nominated for Writing (Screenplay) 1938: BOYS TOWN (w. Dore Schary) 2 nominations