Born in Cleveland, OH. A stage actor from his teens, he played juvenile leads in stock and in vaudeville before turning writer, director and producer of Hollywood silents and early talkies. His film work was sparse but quite highly regarded for its creation of atmosphere. Some of his notable credits include THE SILVER LINING and NOBODY (both 1921), THE BAT (1926), THE DOVE (1927), ALIBI (1928), THE BAT WHISPERS (1930) and CORSAIR (1931). His first wife, Jewel Carmen, starred in several of his films. West was involved and living with actress Thelma Todd (Hollywood's "The Ice Cream Blonde" and notorious party girl) in Malibu at the time of her mysterious death in 1935. Neighbors heard them quarreling the night before the morning she was found in her garage overcome by carbon monoxide poisoning. Though a suspect, West was never arrested. Todd's death was ruled a suicide. Marvin J. Wolf and Katherine Mader wrote an article for the December, 1987 issue of Los Angeles Magazine that throws much light on the Todd case. It is entitled "Solved! Thelma Todd's Death." At the time of his death, West was married to actress Lola Lane (1906-1981).    Nominated for Production 1928-29: ALIBI 1 nomination