Woodbridge Strong Van Dyke II (1889 - 1943)

Born 21 Mar 1889 in San Diego, California

Ancestors

Died 5 Feb 1943 in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California

Profile manager: James Mykytuik [send private message]

Biography

From Wikipedia: Woodbridge Strong "W. S." Van Dyke II (Woody) (March 21, 1889 – February 5, 1943) was an American film director and writer who made several successful early sound films, including Tarzan the Ape Man in 1932, The Thin Man in 1934, San Francisco in 1936, and six popular musicals with Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald. He received two Academy Award nominations for Best Director for The Thin Man and San Francisco, and directed four actors to Oscar nominations: William Powell, Spencer Tracy, Norma Shearer, and Robert Morley. Known as a reliable craftsman who made his films on schedule and under budget, he earned the name "One Take Woody" for his quick and efficient style of filming. In the latter half of 1942, despite being ill with cancer and a bad heart, Van Dyke managed to direct one last film, Journey for Margaret, which premiered in New York City on December 17 that year. It is a heart-rending movie that made five-year-old Margaret O'Brien an overnight star.

Van Dyke, a devout Christian Scientist, had refused most medical treatments and care during his final years. Following the general release of Journey for Margaret to theaters in January 1943, he said his goodbyes to his wife, children, and to studio boss Louis B. Mayer and then committed suicide on February 5 in Brentwood, Los Angeles. Both Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, in accordance with Van Dyke's wishes, sang and officiated at his funeral.

He is interred at Glendale's Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, near his mother, Laura Winston.

Sources

• Wikipedia
• Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 13 February 2021), memorial page for W.S. Van Dyke (21 Mar 1889–5 Feb 1943), Find A Grave: Memorial #19787, citing Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, Los Angeles County, California, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave .

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