Born in Newark, NJ. He began his career as an actor in stock, making his Broadway debut in 1930 in support of Spencer Tracy in The Last Mile. He also dabbled briefly in journalism and was hired to write newspaper publicity for Admiral Richard E. Byrd. Failing to make much headway as a playwright in the early 30s, he set out for Hollywood and a career as a screenwriter. He worked for several studios before hitting his stride with MGM, where he shared an Academy Award for the original story of BOYS TOWN (1938). In 1941 he was appointed executive producer of MGM's B budget productions but resigned his post in 1943 as a result of a rift with his employers over a project and joined David O. Selznick's independent company as a producer. In 1947 he moved over to RKO as executive vice president in charge of production, but the following year he clashed with the company's new boss, Howard Hughes, and returned to MGM as chief of production. His eight-year tenure at the helm of MGM was marked by a two-pronged policy that resulted in glittering entertainment films on one hand and serious "message" pictures on the other. The clash of personalities and viewpoints between Schary and veteran MGM boss Louis B. Mayer led to the latter's ouster from the company in 1951. When Schary himself was fired from his post in 1956, he returned to New York, where he wrote and produced the play Sunrise at Campobello, which won five Tony Awards. He also formed his own film production company and continued working in both media as a writer, producer, and occasional director. He directed a number of successful plays but only one film, ACT ONE (1963). A staunch liberal who attempted to resist Hollywood's blacklist during the McCarthy era, Schary was actively involved in a variety of civil liberties causes. Among the public offices he held were those of the national chairman of B'Nai B'rith's Anti-Defamation League and of the New York City Commissioner of Cultural Affairs. In addition to writing or producing many films himself, he was responsible for the creation of hundreds of other pictures in his capacity as chief of production. Author: Case History of a Movie (1950), For Special Occasions (1962), Storm in the West (with Sinclair Lewis, 1963). In 1969 Schary was given the Valentine Davies Award by the Writers Guild of America, USA.  Writing (Screenplay) 1938: BOYS TOWN (w. John Meehan)  Writing (Original Story) 1938: BOYS TOWN (w. Eleanore Griffin)  Nominated for Writing (Original Story) 1940: EDISON, THE MAN (w. Hugo Butler)  Nominated for Best Picture 1949: BATTLEGROUND - Producer at MGM  Nominated for Documentary (Features) 1952: THE HOAXTERS - Producer  Nominated for Documentary (Short Subjects) 1955: THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG - Producer  Nominated for Short Subjects (Two-reel) 1955: THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG - Producer 7 nominations, 2 Awards