Served briefly in the Austrian cavalry at 17; managed father's straw hat manufacturing factory

Arrived in America; worked as salesman, clerk, short story writer, railroad worker and travel agent

Wrote first play, "In the Morning"

Initial film work as an extra in "Captain McLean" and

First screen credit in "Farewell to Thee"

Debut as assistant director, "Intolerance"; also acted

First film as director, star, and screenwriter in "Blind Husbands/The Pinnacle")

Signed contract with Universal

Starred as villain in "The Heart of Humanity"

Fired from "Merry-Go-Round" by Irving Thalberg

Hired by Goldwyn Company early 1920s

Fired from "Greed" by Irving Thalberg, the production head of newly-formed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer who then hired Rex Ingram to recut the film

Fired from "Queen Kelly" by Joseph Kennedy

Sound film co-directing debut with "Walking Down Broadway" (co-screenwriter; re-directed by Alfred Werker, re-edited and re-titled "Hello, Sister;" no directorial credit; original prints no longer exist)

Attempted suicide (Christmas)

Hired as contract writer at MGM

Quit MGM

Made only stage play appearance in "Arsenic and Old Lace"

Moved to and worked as actor in France; briefly returned to USA to appear in "Sunset Boulevard" (1950)