Background
Henley was born Hess Manassah Henle in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Samuel Henle, a German immigrant and retailer, and Clementine Hess.
Henley was born Hess Manassah Henle in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Samuel Henle, a German immigrant and retailer, and Clementine Hess.
He was involved in well over 60 films either as an actor or director or both in his twenty-year career, between 1914 and 1934 when he retired from filmmaking. He was the sixth of seven children. Edgar Moses (1875–1908), May Grace (Mack) (1878–1966), Lillie Belle (Kronenberger) (1880–1963), Flora Celestine (Klein) (1881–1955), Alberta (1883–1902), and Samuel Junior.
(1891–1938).
His father moved the family to Cincinnati, Ohio. in 1895 due to some bad business dealings that caused the folding of his business. Henley directed films such as the film with Humphrey Bogart. He is noted for beginning the film careers of Bette Davis and Will Rogers.
He began with his own studio and later worked for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner Brothers, and Paramount Pictures.
He directed top stars, including Claudette Colbert, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, and Maurice Chevalier. His remains are buried in Chapel of the Pines Crematory.