Leo McCarey
Birth Name:
Thomas Leo McCarey
Birth Place:
Los Angeles, California, United States
Profession
Writer, Director, Soundtrack, Producer, Assistant director, Production manager, Actor
Fast Facts
- Received his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for contributions to Motion Pictures in 1960
- Entered the movie business in 1920 as an assistant director to Tod Browning after working as a criminal defense attorney for a short period
- Quote: "I love when people laugh, I love when they cry, I like a story to say something, and I hope the audience feels happier leaving the theatre than when it came in․"
- Created the comedy team of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy when he cast them together while working for Hal Roach Studios and helped them develop their onscreen personas
- Was involved in almost 200 movies, many of them comedies
- French director Jean Renoir stated that McCarey understood people more thoroughly than the other directors working in Hollywood
- In 1944, he had the highest reported income in the United States
Awards
- 1938Oscar - Best Director:Winner
- 1940Oscar - Best Writing, Original Story:Nominated
- 1941Oscar - Best Writing, Original Story:Nominated
- 1944NYFCC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 1944Gold Medal - Favorite Picture of the Year:Winner
- 1945Oscar - Best Director:Winner
- 1945Oscar - Best Writing, Original Story:Winner
- 1945Silver Condor - Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera):Winner
- 1945Golden Globe - Best Director:Winner
- 1946Oscar - Best Director:Nominated
- 1946Gold Medal - Favorite Picture of the Year:Winner
- 1946International Critics Award - Best Feature Film:Nominated
- 1953Oscar - Best Writing, Motion Picture Story:Nominated
- 1957Boxoffice Blue Ribbon Award - Best Picture of the Month for the Whole Family (August):Winner
- 1958Oscar - Best Music, Original Song:Nominated
- 1958DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures:Nominated
- 1960DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures:Nominated