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Paul Bern

Biography

From WikipediaPaul Bern (December 3, 1889 – September 5, 1932) was aGerman-born American film director, screenwriter and producer for MGM.Bern was born Paul Levy in Wandsbek, which was then a townin the Prussian province of Schleswig-Holstein (now a district of the city ofHamburg). He was one of six children of Julius and Henriette (née Hirsch) Levy,a Jewish couple. Julius worked as a clerk for a shipping company before openinga candy store. In 1898, Julius decided to move the family to the United Statesdue to the rise of unemployment and anti-Jewish attitudes in Wandsbek. Thefamily eventually settled in New York City. Julius Levy died in 1908. In 1920,Henriette Levy drowned herself.Bern pursued a career in acting on the stage and studied atthe American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He later adopted the stage name"Paul Bern". Bern soon realized he had little aptitude for acting andpursued other aspects of theatre production. He worked as a stage manager for atime before moving to Hollywood in the early 1920s. He was initially a filmeditor before he worked his way up to scenario writing and directing for UnitedArtists and Paramount Pictures. This led to his working full-time as a producerat Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the major studio of the time. Bern eventually becamethe production assistant of Irving Thalberg.The star-studded film Grand Hotel, released six days afterBern's death, won the Best Picture Academy Award for 1931–32. Bern and IrvingThalberg produced the film, although neither was listed in the film credits (inthe early 1930s MGM did not list their films' producers in their credits).However, the award was presented solely to Thalberg, and Bern was excluded.Bern met actress Jean Harlow shortly before the premiere ofHell's Angels in 1930. Bern was instrumental in helping Harlow's career as hewas the only person who took her seriously as an actress. The two struck up afriendship and eventually began dating. They announced their engagement in June1932 and married on July 2, 1932.Two months after marrying Jean Harlow, on September 5, Bernwas found dead from a gunshot to the head in their home on Easton Drive inBeverly Hills, California. The coroner ruled his death a suicide.

Birthday

1889-12-03

Place of birth

Wandsbek - Hamburg - Germany

Death day

1932-09-05