D. W. Griffith

In 1948, Griffith was found unconscious in the lobby of a hotel in Los Angeles and died of a cerebral hemorrhage. His public service was held at the Hollywood Masonic Temple but not many celebrities came to pay their respects.

In 1975, a ten cent postage stamp was dedicated in honor of Griffith and the Directors Guild of America created its highest award in his honor, called the D. W. Griffith Award.

Griffith was born in Crestwood, Kentucky, to Mary Perkins and Jacob Griffith. His father was a colonel and served in the American Civil War and became a Kentucky state legislator.

Griffith was schooled at home by his elder sister Mattie Griffith. His father passed away when he was only 10 years and the family was struck with poverty. He had to drop out of school to take up a job to support his family.

In 1907, Griffith tried to sell one of his scripts to a producer in New York. His script was not accepted but he was given a small role to play in a movie called ‘Rescued from an Eagle’s Nest’.

In 1908, having been smitten by the world of motion pictures, he accepted an acting offer by American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, New York City. He made his first movie ‘The Adventures of Dollie’.

By 1914, he was convinced that making motion pictures is a lucrative business and he directed and produced a movie called ‘Judith of Bethulia’. It was one of the earliest movies produced in the USA.

He developed creative differences with his company Biograph and decided to leave the company and join the Mutual Film Corporation with his actors. He formed the Reliance-Majestic Studios and hired Harry Aitken as his manager.

In 1915, he produced the movie ‘The Clansman’, which he called ‘The Birth of a Nation’ later. It was one of the first blockbusters ever and first feature length film made in America.

In the 1930s, Griffith was awarded an Oscar by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences for his contribution to American cinema and making movies like ‘The Birth of a Nation’.