Born in Germany. Entered American film as a story writer for FIFTEEN WIVES at Invincible Pictures in 1934. He wrote and directed Universal's 1936 FLASH GORDON feature and the accompanying 13-episode serial. As a story and screenplay writer, Stephani's credits, alone or in collaboration, include LOVE IS NEWS, WE HAVE OUR MOMENTS and BETWEEN TWO WOMEN (all 1937), SWEET ROSIE O'GRADY (1943), IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE (1947), SOFIA and THAT WONDERFUL URGE (both 1948), JOHNNY HOLIDAY (1949, also producer), FORT ALGIERS (1953), RELUCTANT BRIDE (1955), and the German feature, BOMBEN AUF MONTE CARLO (1960). From 1937, Stephani also produced at MGM, and his credits include BEG, BORROW OR STEAL (1937), LOVE IS A HEADACHE and FAST COMPANY (both 1938), FAST AND LOOSE and FAST AND FURIOUS (both 1939), AND ONE WAS BEAUTIFUL, PHANTOM RAIDERS, THE CAPTAIN IS A LADY, SKY MURDER and GALLANT SONS (all 1940), DOWN IN SAN DIEGO (1941), BORN TO SING and TARZAN'S NEW YORK ADVENTURE (both 1942), and SHE WENT TO THE RACES (1945). He also directed episodes for TV's "Waterfront", "My Friend Flicka" and "The Deputy" series.  Nominated for Writing (Original Story) 1947: IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE (w. Herbert Clyde Lewis) 1 nomination