Born in Louisville, Kentucky. A former sports reporter for the St. Louis Times, he entered films in his early 20s as publicity director for the Goldwyn company in New York. In 1919 he went to Hollywood as personal representative of Thomas Ince and in 1923 began producing independently and occasionally directing his own product. In 1925 he joined the staff of MGM, where he became one of the several talented producers working as "supervisors" under the leadership of Irving Thalberg. He remained with the studio for 17 years, producing many of the company's profitable properties, including Joan Crawford's and Jean Harlow's pictures, the Nelson Eddy-Jeanette MacDonald cycle, and the "Thin Man" series. From the early 40s he produced independently, releasing through United Artists. He retired in 1951. Some of his other notable non-nominated producing credits at MGM include MAYTIME and NIGHT MUST FALL (both 1937), MARIE ANTOINETTE and SWEETHEARTS (both 1938), IDIOT'S DELIGHT and THE WOMEN (both1939), NORTHWEST PASSAGE and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (both 1940), I MARRIED AN ANGEL (1942) and LADY OF BURLESQUE (1943).  Nominated for Best Picture 1934: THE THIN MAN - Producer at MGM  Nominated for Best Picture 1935: NAUGHTY MARIETTA - Producer at MGM  Best Picture 1936: THE GREAT ZIEGFELD - Producer at MGM 3 nominations, 1 Award