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Mervyn LeRoy

Male 1900 - 1987  (86 years)    Has no ancestors but 6 descendants in this family tree.

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  • Name Mervyn LeRoy 
    Birth 15 Oct 1900  San Francisco Co., California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Death 13 Sep 1987  Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I382960  Geneagraphie
    Last Modified 5 Sep 2002 

    Family 1 Elizabeth Edna Murphy,   b. 17 Nov 1899, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 3 Aug 1974, Santa Monica, Los Angeles Co., California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 74 years) 
    Marriage 1930 
    Divorce Yes, date unknown 
    Family ID F152382  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 5 Sep 2002 

    Family 2 Doris Warner   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Marriage 1934 
    Divorce 1942 
    Children 
    +1. Warner LeRoy,   b. 5 Mar 1935, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 22 Feb 2001, Presbyterian Hospital, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 65 years)
     2. Linda LeRoy
    Family ID F152375  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 5 Sep 2002 

    Family 3 Kitty Spiegel   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Marriage 1 Feb 1946 
    Family ID F152381  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 5 Sep 2002 

  • Event Map Click to hide
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 15 Oct 1900 - San Francisco Co., California, USA Link to Google Earth
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  • Photos Photos (Log in)Photos (Log in)

  • Notes 
    • the "boy wonder" credited with launching the craze for gangster films with his hit "Little Caesar", starring Edward G. Robinson

      The great earthquake and fire of 1906 was a tragedy for Mervyn. While he and his father barely survived, they lost everything they had. To make money, Mervyn sold newspapers and entered talent contests as a singer. When he enter Vaudeville, his act was LeRoy and Cooper - Two Kids and a Piano. After the act broke up, he contacted his cousin, Jesse Lasky, and went to work in Hollywood. He worked in costumes, the film lab and as a camera assistant before becoming a comedy gag writer and an part-time actor in silent films. From writer to director was the next step when he directed 'No Place to Go (1927)'. He became known as the 'boy wonder' of Warners where his pictures were profitable lightweights. His motto was 'good stories make good movies'. When he made 'Little Caesar (1930)' he started the gangster craze in movies and became a great dramatic director. During the 30's his films deal with social issues - usually though the eyes of the underdogs. In 1938, he was picked as head of production at M-G-M. It was through him that M-G-M made 'Wizard of Oz, The (1939)', and because it did so poorly at the box office, he decided to go back to directing. Mervyn always had a good relationship with the actors that he used. He also discovered a number of people who would go on to be big stars. His discoveries include Clark Gable, Loretta Young, Robert Mitchum and Lana Turner. In the 50's, he set up his own production company like everyone else after the collapse of the studio system. When he returned to Warner Brothers, he produced and directed a number of Stage Plays for the screen. The pictures that Mervyn directed were always different. He never did the same type of picture twice. Because of this, he could direct pictures that were comedies, dramas, fantasy and musicals. As talented and creative as Mervyn was, the academy award for direction was never awarded to him.



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