Gregory La Cava - Film Director, Family and Personal Life
Gregory La Cava's Personal Details
Gregory La Cava was an American film director best known for his comedies ‘My Man Godfrey’ and ‘Stage Door.’ This biography of Gregory La Cava provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | March 10, 1892 |
| Died on | March 1, 1952 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Film & Theater Personalities, Directors, Film Director |
| Spouses | Beryl Morse (1924—1930), Grace Olive Nicholls Hoyt Garland (1940—1945) |
| Birth Place | Towanda, Pennsylvania |
| Gender | Male |
| Sun Sign | Pisces |
| Born in | Towanda, Pennsylvania |
| Famous as | Film Director |
| Died at Age | 59 |
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Gregory La Cava's photo
Who is Gregory La Cava?
Gregory La Cava was an American film director best known for his comedies ‘My Man Godfrey’ and ‘Stage Door.’ One of the most prominent directors in Hollywood during the 1930s, he was known for his unconventional direction style and creative treatment of comedic themes. He was especially reputed for drawing the best performances from the actresses which led him to be referred to as a woman’s director. But it was not only women he directed to perfection; he also directed many top actors of his era to Academy Award nominations. A highly creative and innovative individual, he became interested in the visual arts as a young boy and studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Art Students' League. He began his career as a newspaper reporter and cartoonist and soon moved to animated movie work at the studio of the silent era animator, Raoul Barré. A highly skilled young man, he was eventually hired by the newspaper magnate, William Randolph Hearst, to work for his International Film Service. With time La Cava grew more ambitious and forayed into Hollywood where he found considerable success as a film director. However, despite all his greatness behind the camera, he fell victim to the vice of alcoholism which eventually led to his downfall.
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Childhood & Early Life
Gregory La Cava was born on March 10, 1892, in Towanda, Pennsylvania, U.S. into a family of modest means. Artistic from a young age, he started displaying his creativity early on in life.
After leaving school he began to study painting at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Art Students' League of New York. However, he had to drop out due to his family’s dire financial situation and take up a job.
Career
He started working as a newspaper reporter in Rochester, New York, and also took up assignments as a cartoonist with two papers, ‘The New York Globe’ and the ‘Evening World.’
In 1913, his success as a cartoonist led him to a job in animated movie work at the studio of the silent era animator, Raoul Barre. The young man impressed Barre with his skills and determination and was soon made one of the principal animators on the popular ‘Animated Grouch Chaser’ series.
In 1915, the multi-millionaire and newspaper magnate, William Randolph Hearst, started a rival animation studio, called International Film Service (IFS), and hired La Cava from his competitor. La Cava, who was made editor-in-chief of the new organization, held this position until the company closed in 1918.
Even after IFS closed, La Cava continued to make animated shorts. During the early 1920s he set his eyes on films and transitioned to live-action productions, writing and directing two-reel comedy shorts and features.
He made his Hollywood directorial debut with 'His Nibs' in 1921, starring Colleen Moore. A series of short comedies followed which included 'A Social Error' in 1922, 'Helpful Hogan' and 'The Fiddling Fool' in 1923, and 'Restless Wives' and 'The New Professor' in 1924.
He enjoyed moderate success during the silent era and ventured into talkies in the late 1920s with 'Saturday's Children' in 1929.
His career flourished during the 1930s as his films began enjoying mainstream success. He also got the opportunity to work with some of the top most actors and actresses in Hollywood during this time. In 1934, he directed 'The Affairs of Cellini', which earned four Academy Award nominations, including Best Actor for Frank Morgan.
La Cava reached the pinnacle of his career in 1936 when he directed the William Powell and Carole Lombard starrer ‘My Man Godfrey,’ a comedy about a snobbish socialite who falls in love with the butler, much to the man’s dismay. The film was a success, both critical and commercial.
In 1937, he directed the star-studded ‘Stage Door,’ a story of aspiring young actresses who share an apartment. The film was a hit which helped to revive the failing career of Katharine Hepburn and earned several Academy Award nominations.
Gregory La Cava was undoubtedly a highly creative individual and talented director, but he was also a notorious alcoholic who would often arrive for shooting in a drunken state. His alcoholism wrecked havoc with his professional life and his career declined during the 1940s. He directed sporadically during the decade but his career was all but over.
Major Works
The screwball comedy film ‘My Man Godfrey’ is probably one of the director’s best known films. The story of a socialite who falls in love with a butler was a runaway hit and earned huge profits. In 1999, the film was deemed "culturally significant" by the United States Library of Congress and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
La Cava directed the film ‘Stage Door,’ adapted from the play by the same name, which is counted among his greatest films. The story of several aspiring actresses portrayed by Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Gail Patrick, Constance Collier, and Andrea Leeds, received very good reviews and was nominated for four Academy Awards.
Awards & Achievements
He was twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director: ‘My Man Godfrey’ (1936) and ‘Stage Door’ (1937).
In 1937, he won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director for the film ‘Stage Door.’
He has a star on the Walk of Fame at 6906 Hollywood Blvd.
Personal Life & Legacy
Gregory La Cava was twice married and twice divorced. He married Beryl Morse Greene in 1924. The couple had one child in their six years of marriage and divorced in 1930.
His second marriage was to Grace Olive Nicholls Hoyt Garland in 1940. This marriage ended within five years in 1945.
He was an alcoholic and died of a heart attack nine days before his 60th birthday on March 1, 1952.
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Gregory La Cava biography timelines
- // 10th Mar 1892Gregory La Cava was born on March 10, 1892, in Towanda, Pennsylvania, U.S. into a family of modest means. Artistic from a young age, he started displaying his creativity early on in life.
- // 1913In 1913, his success as a cartoonist led him to a job in animated movie work at the studio of the silent era animator, Raoul Barre. The young man impressed Barre with his skills and determination and was soon made one of the principal animators on the popular ‘Animated Grouch Chaser’ series.
- // 1915 To 1918In 1915, the multi-millionaire and newspaper magnate, William Randolph Hearst, started a rival animation studio, called International Film Service (IFS), and hired La Cava from his competitor. La Cava, who was made editor-in-chief of the new organization, held this position until the company closed in 1918.
- // 1924 To 1930Gregory La Cava was twice married and twice divorced. He married Beryl Morse Greene in 1924. The couple had one child in their six years of marriage and divorced in 1930.
- // 1934His career flourished during the 1930s as his films began enjoying mainstream success. He also got the opportunity to work with some of the top most actors and actresses in Hollywood during this time. In 1934, he directed 'The Affairs of Cellini', which earned four Academy Award nominations, including Best Actor for Frank Morgan.
- // 1936La Cava reached the pinnacle of his career in 1936 when he directed the William Powell and Carole Lombard starrer ‘My Man Godfrey,’ a comedy about a snobbish socialite who falls in love with the butler, much to the man’s dismay. The film was a success, both critical and commercial.
- // 1936 To 1937He was twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director: ‘My Man Godfrey’ (1936) and ‘Stage Door’ (1937).
- // 1937In 1937, he directed the star-studded ‘Stage Door,’ a story of aspiring young actresses who share an apartment. The film was a hit which helped to revive the failing career of Katharine Hepburn and earned several Academy Award nominations.
- // 1937In 1937, he won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director for the film ‘Stage Door.’
- // 1940 To 1945His second marriage was to Grace Olive Nicholls Hoyt Garland in 1940. This marriage ended within five years in 1945.
- // 1st Mar 1952He was an alcoholic and died of a heart attack nine days before his 60th birthday on March 1, 1952.
- // 1999The screwball comedy film ‘My Man Godfrey’ is probably one of the director’s best known films. The story of a socialite who falls in love with a butler was a runaway hit and earned huge profits. In 1999, the film was deemed "culturally significant" by the United States Library of Congress and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
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Gregory La Cava's FAQ
What is Gregory La Cava birthday?
Gregory La Cava was born at 1892-03-10
When was Gregory La Cava died?
Gregory La Cava was died at 1952-03-01
Where was Gregory La Cava died?
Gregory La Cava was died in Malibu, California
Which age was Gregory La Cava died?
Gregory La Cava was died at age 59
Where is Gregory La Cava's birth place?
Gregory La Cava was born in Towanda, Pennsylvania
What is Gregory La Cava nationalities?
Gregory La Cava's nationalities is American
Who is Gregory La Cava spouses?
Gregory La Cava's spouses is Beryl Morse (1924—1930), Grace Olive Nicholls Hoyt Garland (1940—1945)
What is Gregory La Cava's sun sign?
Gregory La Cava is Pisces
How famous is Gregory La Cava?
Gregory La Cava is famouse as Film Director