Education
He was educated at Columbia University and the Arts Students League.
He was educated at Columbia University and the Arts Students League.
Gillespie joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a set designer in 1925, a year after it was founded. His first project was the silent film Ben-Hur, released that same year. He worked at the studio in various capacities until 1962.
In 1936, he became the head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer"s Special Effects Department.
He wrote a book, The Wizard of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: Memoirs of A. Arnold Gillespie. Gillispie"s nickname was "Buddy.".