Lawrence Weingarten

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Lawrence Weingarten (born December 30, 1897 in Chicago , Illinois , USA ; † February 5, 1975 in Los Angeles , California , USA ) was an American film producer .

Life

Weingarten's first and only experience in front of the camera was the 1916 silent film Bitter Sweet , in which he was seen in a small role. But the experience must have been disappointing for the 20-year-old, so that in future he concentrated on working behind the camera as a producer.

So he began his work in the post-war period as a publicist for various film studios until he was taken under contract in 1924 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer , which had just been founded . He was supported by Irving Thalberg , for whom Weingarten worked as an assistant and co-producer. Weingarten was able to work his way up to production manager by 1929. At this time he married Thalberg's sister Sylvia.

Weingarten, who mainly produced film comedies , was nominated twice for an Oscar in the category of best film in the course of his career spanning more than three decades , but always got nothing. Only in 1974 was he awarded the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award , an honorary Oscar dedicated to his patron and brother-in-law. One of his most famous films is the comedy The Cat on a Hot Tin Roof , produced in 1958 , for which Weingarten was able to win Elizabeth Taylor as the leading actress.

Lawrence Weingarten died of leukemia just over a month after his 77th birthday .

Filmography (selection)

Awards

Web links