Background
Gausman was born in Los Angeles, California in 1917 to Harvey Elwood Gausman (1886-1944) and his wife, Maude F. Coffy.
Gausman was born in Los Angeles, California in 1917 to Harvey Elwood Gausman (1886-1944) and his wife, Maude F. Coffy.
He was nominated for five Academy Awards in the category Best Art Direction. He was the younger brother to Harvey Elwood Gausman, Junior. (1913-1981). He was hired by Walt Disney in 1961, to be the set decorator for The Absent-Minded Professor.
Having done set decorations for films since 1952, Gausman took the offer, and since then has done set decorations for films including Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Escape to Witch Mountain, Back To The Future and Jaws: The Revenge.
Gausman retired from set decorations in 1989, and died at home on June 10, 2003. He was 85 years old.