Biography
Mervyn LeRoy was an American film director, producer, and sometime actor.
LeRoy worked in costumes, processing labs and as a camera assistant until he became a gag writer and actor in silent films, including The Ten Commandments in 1923. LeRoy credits Ten Commandments director, Cecil B. DeMille, for inspiring him to become a director: "As the top director of the era, DeMille had been the magnet that had drawn me to his set as often as I could go." LeRoy also credits DeMille for teaching him the directing techniques required to make his own films.
His first directing job was with First National Pictures on 1927's No Place to Go. LeRoy ended up working at Warner Bros. after they took control of First National. When his movies made lots of money without costing too much, he became well received in the movie business. He directed two key films which launched Edward G. Robinson into major stardom, the Oscar-nominated critique of tabloid journalism Five Star Final, and the classic gangster film Little Caesar, which made his mark. From that point forward, LeRoy would be responsible for a diverse variety of films as a director and producer. The following year's I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang was also nominated for the Academy Award for Outstanding Production as was his Anthony Adverse.
In 1938 he was chosen as head of production at MGM, where he was responsible for the decision to make The Wizard of Oz. He was responsible for discovering Clark Gable, Loretta Young, Robert Mitchum, and Lana Turner. His 1941 film Blossoms in the Dust was nominated for the Academy Award for Outstanding Motion Picture. His first big hit as a director with MGM was 1942's Random Harvest which was their biggest of the season earning worldwide rentals of $8 million and for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Directing. The film was also nominated for the Academy Award for Outstanding Motion Picture. He hit big again two years later with Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo with rentals of $6 million.
In 1951, he scored his biggest hit with Quo Vadis earning worldwide rentals of $21 million as well as a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture. In the early 1950s, LeRoy directed such musicals as Lovely to Look At, Million Dollar Mermaid, Latin Lovers and Rose Marie.
He returned to Warner Brothers in 1955, where he took over from John Ford as director on Mister Roberts, another big hit, which was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture. He also directed films for Warners such as The Bad Seed, No Time for Sergeants, The FBI Story, and Gypsy.
He received an honorary Oscar in 1946 for The House I Live In, "for tolerance short subject", and the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 1976. A total of eight movies Mervyn LeRoy directed or co-directed were nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, one of the highest numbers among all directors.
Filmography
all 108
Movies 104
Director 61
Producer 21
self 16
TV Shows 4
Writer 1

Hollywood, The Dream Life of Lana Turner (2019)

Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words (2015)

You Must This: The Warner Bros. Story (2008)

42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage (2006)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic (1990)

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life (1988)

The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind (1988)

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983)

Moment to Moment (1966)

Mary, Mary (1963)

Gypsy (1962)

A Majority of One (1961)

The Devil at 4 O'Clock (1961)

Wake Me When It's Over (1960)

The FBI Story (1959)

Home Before Dark (1958)

No Time for Sergeants (1958)

Toward the Unknown (1956)

The Bad Seed (1956)

Mister Roberts (1955)

Strange Lady in Town (1955)

Rose Marie (1954)

Latin Lovers (1953)

Million Dollar Mermaid (1952)

Lovely to Look At (1952)

Quo Vadis (1951)

East Side, West Side (1949)

Any Number Can Play (1949)

The Great Sinner (1949)

Little Women (1949)

Homecoming (1948)

Desire Me (1947)

Without Reservations (1946)

The House I Live In (1945)

Madame Curie (1943)

You, John Jones! (1943)

Random Harvest (1942)

Johnny Eager (1941)

Unholy Partners (1941)

Blossoms in the Dust (1941)

Escape (1940)

Waterloo Bridge (1940)

At the Circus (1939)

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Stand Up and Fight (1939)

Dramatic School (1938)

Fools for Scandal (1938)

The Great Garrick (1937)

Mr. Dodd Takes the Air (1937)

They Won't Forget (1937)

Three Men on a Horse (1936)

Anthony Adverse (1936)

I Found Stella Parish (1935)

Page Miss Glory (1935)

Sweet Adeline (1934)

Happiness Ahead (1934)

Heat Lightning (1934)

Hi, Nellie! (1934)

The World Changes (1933)

Tugboat Annie (1933)

Elmer, the Great (1933)

Hard to Handle (1933)

Three on a Match (1932)

Big City Blues (1932)

Two Seconds (1932)

The Heart of New York (1932)

High Pressure (1932)

Local Boy Makes Good (1931)

Five Star Final (1931)

Broded (1931)

Too Young to Marry (1931)

Gentleman's Fate (1931)

Little Caesar (1931)

Tonight or Never (1931)

Top Speed (1930)

Numbered Men (1930)

Show Girl in Hollywood (1930)

Playing Around (1930)

Little Johnny Jones (1929)

Broadway Babies (1929)

Hot Stuff (1929)

Naughty Baby (1928)

Oh Kay! (1928)

Harold Teen (1928)

No Place to Go (1927)

Ella Cinders (1926)

The Chorus Lady (1924)

Broadway After Dark (1924)

The Call of the Canyon (1923)

Going Up (1923)

Little Johnny Jones (1923)

Prodigal Daughters (1923)

The Ghost Breaker (1922)
Information
Known For
Directing
Gender
Male
Birthday
1900-10-15
Deathday
1987-09-13 (86 years old)
Birth Place
San Francisco, United States
Relationships
Edna Murphy (1927 - 1933)
Children
Warner LeRoy
Citizenships
United States
Residences
San Francisco, United States
Also Known As
Mervyn Le Roy, Mervyn Leroy, 머빈 르로이
Awards
Golden Globe for Best Film Promoting International Understanding, National Board of Review Award for Best Film, Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, Academy Honorary Award, Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award, star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
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Mervyn LeRoy
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