William LeBaron


William LeBaron was an American film producer. LeBaron's film credits included Cimarron, which won the Academy Award for Outstanding Production at the 4th Academy Awards ceremony for 1930/1931. LeBaron also produced landmark comedy features from W. C. Fields, Mae West and Wheeler and Woolsey. In addition to being a producer, LeBaron served as the last production chief of Film Booking Offices of America and at FBO's successor, RKO Pictures, where he was replaced by David O. Selznick.

Biography

LeBaron was born in Elgin, Illinois on February 16, 1883. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Chicago and New York University, and then spent a decade writing musical scores and lyrics for Broadway shows. He then wrote for some magazines and publications, before Joseph Kennedy, an investor in several of LeBaron's plays, suggested that LeBaron move to California in 1924. He joined the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in 1933 and became a production chief at several studios, including RKO Studios, Paramount Studios and 20th Century Fox.
LeBaron died on February 9, 1958, a week before his 75th birthday, and was buried in Chapel of the Pines Crematory. He was married to Mabel Hollins, a British musical comedy actress.

Selected filmography