American producer, in films from 1929 and in Hollywood from 1934 as executive producer for Republic Pictures. Worked for Paramount from 1940 to 1946, and for 20th Century Fox from 1946. He became M-G-M's first independent producer in 1955. From 1958 to 1962, he was vice president in charge of production. He also headed his own production company from 1964 to 1967.