First play, "The Tree" produced on Broadway

Acted with the Shakespearean Repertory Theatre in New York

Worked as a screenwriter in Hollywood; signed a screenwriting contract with MGM for whom he wrote "Badman of Brimstone" (1938) and "Twenty Mule Team" (1940) both starring Wallace Beery

First screenplay, "We Went to College"

Served in the Combat Film Division of the US Army as Lt. Colonel making training films

Joined Paramount as producer-writer; produced "The Big Clock" (1948) and produced and wrote screenplay for "The Great Gatsby" (1949)

First film as producer, "O.S.S"

Moved to England to work for producer Albert Broccoli's Warwick Films; first film for Broccoli and Irving Allen, "The Red Beret/Paratrooper"

Returned to US; became an executive producer for MGM-TV

Wrote first James Bond screenplay, "Dr. No"