Joseph L. Mankiewicz

He married Elizabeth Young on May 20, 1934 and divorced her on May 20, 1937. He had a son, Eric from this marriage.

On July 28 1939 he got married to actress Rose Stradner who died on September 27, 1958. He had two sons, Christopher and Tom with her.

He married Rosemary Mathews on December 14, 1962 who was with him till his death. He had a daughter, Alexandra from this marriage.

Joseph Leo Mankiewicz was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA on February 11, 1909 to German Jewish immigrants Franz Mankiewicz, who taught German and French, and Johanna Blumenau.

He had an older brother, Herman who later became a very successful screenwriter in Hollywood. He also had a younger sister, Erna.

The family moved to New York City when Joseph was only four years old.

He graduated from the ‘Stuvesant High School’ in 1924.

After finishing school Joseph obtained a bachelor’s degree from the ‘Columbia University’ in 1928.

Joseph L. Mankiewicz was selected by ‘Chicago Tribune’ as a reporter in Berlin and he started writing English subtitles for German movies at the ‘UFA Studios’.

In 1929 he moved to Hollywood, California, USA where he joined his elder brother in writing film scripts. He did his initial screenwriting for ‘Paramount Pictures’ for seventeen years.

In 1934 he became a producer for MGM with the help of Louis B. Mayer.

He produced two films starring Katharine Hepburn which were ‘The Philadelphia Story’ in 1940 and ‘The Woman of the Year’ in 1942 which starred Spencer Tracy.

In 1943 he joined ‘20th Century Fox’ as a screenwriter and producer and worked with Darryl F. Zanuck in the film ‘The Keys of the Kingdom’ in 1944 which starred Gregory Peck and Mankiewicz’s wife Rose Stradner in the supporting role of a nun.

Joseph L. Mankiewicz received an ‘Academy Award’ nomination for ‘Best Picture’ in 1941 for ‘The Philadelphia Story’.

He won two Oscars for ‘Best Direction’ and ‘Best Screenplay’ for ‘A Letter to Three Wives’ in 1949.

He won ‘Academy Award’ for ‘Best Direction’ and ‘Best Screenplay’ for ‘All About Eve’ in 1950.