George Fitzmaurice

Biography

Date of Birth 13 February 1885 , Paris, France Date of Death 13 June 1940 , Los Angeles, California, USA Nickname Fitz Mini Bio American director of French-Dutch ancestry, born in Paris. He studied the fine arts in Paris before resettling in America. As a set designer for stage productions, he was able to break into films in 1908 doing the same work. He dabbled in screen writing and then began directing, at first sporadically, in 1914. He soon became recognized as a talent and developed a name for himself as a specialist in romantic dramas. His career lasted more than thirty-five years. Although his films include such well-known works as The Son of the Sheik (1926), Raffles (1930), and Mata Hari (1931), he never quite reached the upper reaches of his profession, but was always considered a reliable and occasionally innovative workman. Spouse Roberta (1934 - ?) Diana Kane (1927 - ?) (divorced) (1 child) Ouida Bergère (? - ?) Trivia He and his wife, Diana Kane, had a daughter named Sheila, born circa 1929. Owner of George Fitzmaurice Productions. Co-founder of Astra Film Corp., active from 1916-1920. Directed one Oscar nominated performance: Betty Compson in The Barker (1928).