Born in Cherokee, IA. American film producer in the 1920s (THE QUARTERBACK, 1926; SKYSCRAPER, 1928; THE RACKETEER, 1929; SCOTLAND YARD, 1930) who became a full-time screenwriter in 1930. Screenwriting/story credits include THE ARIZONA KID and THE SEA WOLF (both 1930), A HOLY TERROR (1931), BEFORE DAWN (1933), MASSACRE, DARK HAZARD, GAMBLING LADY and I AM A THIEF (all 1934), THE RIGHT TO LIVE, IN CALIENTE and THE MELODY LINGERS ON (all 1935), BOULDER DAM and NOBODY'S FOOL (both 1936), IT'S A DATE and SPY FOR A DAY (both 1940), PATRICK THE GREAT (1945), and NANCY GOES TO RIO (1950). He is most famous, however, for being President of the Screen Actors Guild from 1934 to 1935. In 1939, Block helped to form the Motion Picture Relief Fund, designed to provide support and medical care for motion picture industry employees unable to care for themselves. These efforts led to an honorary Academy Award, which Hersholt shared with Fund co-founders Ralph Morgan, Jean Hersholt and Conrad Nagel. The Fund also led to the creation of the Motion Picture Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.  Special Award 1939: Motion Picture Relief Fund -- Jean Hersholt, President; Ralph Morgan, Chairman of the Executive Committee; Ralph Block, First Vice-President & Conrad Nagel - "Acknowledging the outstanding services to the industry during the past year of the Motion Picture Relief Fund and its progressive leadership." Winners presented Plaques. 1 Special Award