Born in Cuernavaca, Mexico; educated at Chaminade College. Set decorator in Hollywood from the 1930s until the 1970s, he entered American film as art director for THE WESTLAND CASE at Universal in 1937. Worked alone or in collaboration on 130 films and television series, including (unnominated) THE KANSAN (1943), IT HAPPENED TOMORROW (1944), IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946), THE PARADINE CASE (1947), I REMEMBER MAMA, STATE OF THE UNION and ROPE (all 1948), A PLACE IN THE SUN and DETECTIVE STORY (both 1951), MY SON JOHN and CARRIE (both 1952), SHANE and THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (both 1953), THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY (1955), OLD YELLER (1957), DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE (1959), POLLYANNA (1961), THE PARENT TRAP (1961), BON VOYAGE! (1962), THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY (1963), and several other Disney productions until his retirement in 1972.  Nominated for Interior Decoration (Black & White) 1942: SILVER QUEEN - Interior Decoration (w. Ralph Berger)  Art Direction/Set Decoration (Black & White) 1949: THE HEIRESS - Set Decoration  Nominated for Art Direction/Set Decoration (Black & White) 1952: CARRIE - Set Decoration  Art Direction/Set Decoration (Color) 1954: 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA - Set Decoration  Nominated for Art Direction/Set Decoration (Color) 1954: EXECUTIVE SUITE - Set Decoration (w. Edwin B. Willis)  Nominated for Art Direction/Set Decoration (Black & White) 1961: THE ABSENT MINDED PROFESSOR - Set Decoration (w. Hal Gausman)  Nominated for Art Direction/Set Decoration (Color) 1964: MARY POPPINS - Set Decoration (w. Hal Gausman)  Nominated for Art Direction/Set Decoration 1971: BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS - Set Decoration (w. Hal Gausman) 8 nominations, 2 Awards