Born Woodbridge Strong Van Dyke II in San Diego, CA; nicknamed "One-Take Woody." After working as a gold miner, a lumberjack, a railroad worker and a mercenary, Van Dyke began his career as an assistant director, notably under D.W. Griffith on INTOLERANCE (1916). He rose to prominence after he took over the direction of WHITE SHADOWS IN THE SOUTH SEAS (1928) from Robert Flaherty and, by the 1930s, had developed into one of MGM's most reliable directors. Van Dyke was a capable craftsman whose nonchalant approach to filming earned him the nickname "One-Shot Woody"; it also brought him success at the box office, particularly with the "Thin Man" series, starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. His deft touch is evident in films such as TRADER HORN (1931), MANHATTAN MELODRAMA (1934) and SWEETHEARTS (1938). Other notable directing credits include his first feature THE LAND OF LONG SHADOWS (1917, also writer - Essanay), his 44th and last silent film THE PAGAN (1929 - MGM), TARZAN THE APE MAN (1932), THE PRIZEFIGHTER AND THE LADY and ESKIMO (both 1933), THE THIN MAN (1934), ROSE-MARIE, SAN FRANCISCO, HIS BROTHER'S WIFE, THE DEVIL IS A SISSY and AFTER THE THIN MAN (all 1936), ROSALIE (1937), MARIE ANTOINETTE (1938), ANOTHER THIN MAN (1939), NORTHWEST PASSAGE (uncredited) and BITTER SWEET (both 1940), SHADOW OF THE THIN MAN and DR. KILDARE'S VICTORY (both 1941), I MARRIED AN ANGEL, CAIRO and his last film, JOURNEY FOR MARGARET (all 1942). He committed suicide in Brentwood, CA, at age 53.  Nominated for Directing 1934: THE THIN MAN  Nominated for Directing 1936: SAN FRANCISCO 2 nominations