Born in Chicago, IL. Archetypal "contract" studio director who entered films as an actor, began writing and directing comedy shorts, and moved up to features in the late 1920's. Working most often for MGM and Paramount, Taurog specialized in comedies and other light entertainments, though he made several dramas as well, such as THE BEGINNING OR THE END (1947), about the birth of the atomic bomb. By the mid-50s he was directing formula vehicles for box-office stars such as Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis and Elvis Presley -- whom Taurog directed in 9 movies, starting with G.I. BLUES (1961). His nephew is child actor-turned-TV director Jackie Cooper. Taurog directed Cooper in SKIPPY and SOOKY (both 1931). The stories from this collaboration are legion. (See Jackie Cooper's page.) Some of Taurog's other notable directing credits include IF I HAD A MILLION (1932), THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1936 (1935), RHYTHM ON THE RANGE (1936), MAD ABOUT MUSIC, THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER and BOYS TOWN (all 1938), the screen tests for GONE WITH THE WIND (1939, uncredited), BROADWAY MELODY OF 1940, YOUNG TOM EDISON and LITTLE NELLIE KELLY (all 1940), GIRL CRAZY (1943), THE HOODLUM SAINT (1946), WORDS AND MUSIC (1948), THE TOAST OF NEW ORLEANS (1950), the previously mentioned Martin & Lewis or just plain Jerry Lewis movies: THE STOOGE and THE CADDY (both 1953), VISIT TO A SMALL PLANET (1960), and the Elvis chronicles: G.I. BLUES (1960), BLUE HAWAII (1961), GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS! (1962), IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLD'S FAIR (1963), TICKLE ME (1965), SPINOUT (1966), DOUBLE TROUBLE (1967) and SPEEDWAY and LIVE A LITTLE, LOVE A LITTLE (both 1968).  Directing 1930-31: SKIPPY  Nominated for Directing 1938: BOYS TOWN 2 nominations, 1 Award