| Birth: | Nov. 5, 1895 | | Death: | Apr. 21, 1956 | 
Author, Journalist, Motion Picture Screenwriter. He was the husband of actress Helen Hayes and father to actor James McArthur and Mary. Prior to their marriage, he was said to have had relationships with Beatrice Lillie and Dorothy Parker. The son of an evangelist minister, the fifth of seven childrenm his passion for the written word began when he was young and his first jobs were as a reporter. He also had a thirst for adventure in his youth and accompanid General John J. Pershing in his pursuit of Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. He enlisted in the United States Army during World War I and served in the 149th Field Artillery, part of the Rainbow Division. He would later write a book on his war experiences called "A Bug's Eye View of the War". After the war, he returned to journalism, working in Chicago, Illinois, writing stories about the famous and infamous of the day, as well as short stories. When they became successful he decided to go to New York, New York, where he wrote plays for Broadway, including "Lulu Belle," "Salvation," and "The Front Page" (a huge success). He and his writing partner Ben Hecht were invited to Hollywood, where they would eventually write screenplays for "Rasputin and the Empress," "The Scoundrel," "Crime without Passion," "Gunga Din," "Wuthering Heights," and two movie versions of "Front Page." He and his partner were nominated for Academy Awards, winning one for best screenplay. When World War II came he went back into the United States Army as a Major in the Chemical Warfare Service and would be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel before his tour was done. He again returned to writing after the War and continued to work up until his death in 1956. (bio by: Catharine)
Family links:
Spouse:
Helen Hayes (1900 - 1993)*
Children:
James Gordon MacArthur (1937 - 2010)*
*Calculated relationship
Search Amazon for Charles MacArthur | | | Burial:
Oak Hill Cemetery
Nyack
Rockland County
New York, USA
GPS (lat/lon): 41.09736, -73.92928 |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Record added: Oct 28, 1999
Find A Grave Memorial# 6774 |
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