George B. Seitz

This former illustrator, stage actor and playwright began his film career in 1913 as an actor and screenwriter for Pathe. Beginning in 1914, Seitz contributed to the scripts of Pearl White's first serials, notably the landmark, "Perils of Pauline" and including such classics as "The Romance of Elaine" and "Pearl of the Army" (in which he also appeared as actor). He later served as both writer and director on subsequent White vehicles. Seitz eventually formed his own studio, where he continued to direct and star in scores of serials until 1925, when he began making action features. He proceeded in a similar workmanlike vein with the advent of sound, and despite the strict discipline he imposed on his production schedule, managed to produce a surprising amount of quality work through the mid-40s, including "The Last of the Mohicans" (1936) and the majority of the films in the vastly popular "Andy Hardy" series. His brother was cinematographer John F Seitz and his son was writer-director George B Seitz Jr.