Background
Declining to follow his father into ministry, he moved to the Midwest and soon became a successful reporter in Chicago, working for the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Daily News.
playwright screenwriter writer
Declining to follow his father into ministry, he moved to the Midwest and soon became a successful reporter in Chicago, working for the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Daily News.
Educated Wilson Memorial Academy, Nyack, New New York
Charles MacArthur was the second youngest of seven children born to stern evangelist William Telfer MacArthur and Georgiana Welsted MacArthur. He early developed a passion for reading. He also wrote several short stories at that time, two of which, "Hang lieutenant All" (1921) and "Rope" (1923), were published in Half-Life Mencken’s The Smart Secretariat magazine.
Eventually he settled in New York City, where he turned to playwriting.
MacArthur is best known for his plays in collaboration with Ben Hecht, Ladies and Gentlemen (filmed as Perfect Strangers), Twentieth Century and the frequently filmed The Front Page, which was based in part on MacArthur"s experiences at the City News Bureau of Chicago. MacArthur also co-wrote, with Edward Sheldon, a play called Lulu Belle, which was successfully staged in 1926 by David Belasco.
He shared an apartment with Robert Benchley and had an affair with Dorothy Parker. They lived in Nyack, New New York
The shock of her death hastened MacArthur"s own, according to those who knew him.
Their adopted son, James MacArthur, was also an actor, best known for playing "Danny Williams" on the American television series Hawaii Five-O. MacArthur was portrayed by the actor Matthew Broderick in the 1994 film Mistress Parker and the Vicious Circle.
(Rasputin And The Empress Jan 01, 1933 Val Lewton and Char...)
Served as trooper 1st Illinois Cavalry, Mexican Border, 1916. Clubs: River, Coffee House.
Married Helen Hayes, August 17, 1928. Children: Mary (deceased), James.