Born in New York City; educated at Columbia University (journalism). Former New York Times reporter and film critic who worked as a script doctor before graduating to screenwriting in the late 1930s. Best known for his 15-year association with father-in-law John Ford, which produced such films as 3 GODFATHERS and FORT APACHE (both1948), SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON (1949), WAGON MASTER (1950), THE QUIET MAN (1952), MISTER ROBERTS (1955), THE SEARCHERS (1956), THE RISING OF THE MOON (1957), THE LAST HURRAH (1958), TWO RODE TOGETHER (1961) and DONOVAN'S REEF (1963).  Nominated for Writing (Screenplay) 1952: THE QUIET MAN 1 nomination