David Lewis shared an intimate relationship with "Frankenstein" (1931) director James Whale for "twenty-plus" years (TCM, and supported by "Classic Monsters" website). Mr. Lewis removed his things from their home in 1952, when Mr. Whale informed him of a new lover, 25-year-old bartender Pierre Foegel, coming over to stay. Though separated, the two remained friends. Upon the death of Mr. Lewis in 1987, his ashes were interred in a niche across from Whale's ashes in the Columbarium of Memory at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale.
After finding his partner James Whale floating dead in the swimming pool of their Santa Monica
home, Lewis did not disclose Whale's suicide note until
close to the time of his own death.
Attended the University of Washington.
Began as a stage actor, story editor and personal assistant to Irving Thalberg at MGM. Subsequently worked under Hal B. Wallis at Warner Brothers before becoming a producer in his own right.