Charles MacArthur
| Charles MacArthur | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Charles Gordon MacArthur November 5, 1895 Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Died | April 21, 1956 (aged 60) New York City, New York, United States |
| Occupation | Screenwriter, playwright |
| Spouse(s) |
Helen Hayes (m.1928-1956; his death) |
| Children | Mary, James |
| Awards |
Best Story 1935 The Scoundrel |
Charles Gordon MacArthur (November 5, 1895 – April 21, 1956) was an American playwright and screenwriter.
Charles MacArthur was the second youngest of seven children born to stern evangelist William Telfer MacArthur and Georgiana Welsted MacArthur. He early developed a passion for reading. Declining to follow his father into ministry, he moved to the Midwest and soon became a successful reporter in Chicago, working for the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Daily News. He also wrote several short stories at that time, two of which, "Hang It All" (1921) and "Rope" (1923), were published in H.L. Mencken’s The Smart Set magazine. Eventually he settled in New York City, where he turned to playwriting.
MacArthur is best known for his plays in collaboration with Ben Hecht, Ladies and Gentlemen (filmed as Perfect Strangers), Twentieth Century and the frequently filmed The Front Page, which was based in part on MacArthur's experiences at the City News Bureau of Chicago. MacArthur also co-wrote, with Edward Sheldon, a play called Lulu Belle, which was successfully staged in 1926 by David Belasco.
MacArthur was friends with members of the Algonquin Round Table. He shared an apartment with Robert Benchley and had an affair with Dorothy Parker.
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