Mervyn LeRoy /ləˈrÉ"ɪ/ (October 15, 1900 â€" September 13, 1987)
was an American film director, film producer, author, and occasional
actor.LeRoy was born on October 15, 1900 in San Francisco to Jewish
parents, Edna (née Armer) and Harry LeRoy. The 1906 earthquake, which
destroyed his father's import-export business, left his family in
financial ruin. After his father's death in 1910, young Mervyn worked
selling newspapers in front of the Alcazar Theater. From this sales
location, he was given a bit part for a play. Through his winning a
Charlie Chaplin impersonation contest, he moved into vaudeville, then
minor parts in silent movies.LeRoy worked in costumes, processing labs
and as a camera assistant until he became a gag writer and actor in
silent films, including The Ten Commandments in 1923. LeRoy credits
Ten Commandments director, Cecil B. DeMille, for inspiring him to
become a director: "As the top director of the era, DeMille had been
the magnet that had drawn me to his set as often as I could go." LeRoy
also credits DeMille for teaching him the directing techniques
required to make his own films.
was an American film director, film producer, author, and occasional
actor.LeRoy was born on October 15, 1900 in San Francisco to Jewish
parents, Edna (née Armer) and Harry LeRoy. The 1906 earthquake, which
destroyed his father's import-export business, left his family in
financial ruin. After his father's death in 1910, young Mervyn worked
selling newspapers in front of the Alcazar Theater. From this sales
location, he was given a bit part for a play. Through his winning a
Charlie Chaplin impersonation contest, he moved into vaudeville, then
minor parts in silent movies.LeRoy worked in costumes, processing labs
and as a camera assistant until he became a gag writer and actor in
silent films, including The Ten Commandments in 1923. LeRoy credits
Ten Commandments director, Cecil B. DeMille, for inspiring him to
become a director: "As the top director of the era, DeMille had been
the magnet that had drawn me to his set as often as I could go." LeRoy
also credits DeMille for teaching him the directing techniques
required to make his own films.
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