Gene Fowler
Gene Fowler, originally named Eugene Devlan, was a prominent American writer born in Denver, Colorado, in 1890. He began his career in journalism at the Denver Republican and quickly transitioned to the Rocky Mountain News, where he served as city editor. Fowler's life took a significant turn when he moved to New York City in 1918, initially struggling but ultimately finding success as a sports writer for the New York American. By the age of thirty-four, he became the managing editor of the newspaper and developed a notable friendship with actor John Barrymore.
In 1928, Fowler shifted his focus to screenwriting, contributing to several classic films, including *What Price Hollywood?* and *Some Like It Hot*. He was also an accomplished biographer, known for his detailed accounts of various figures, including his friend Barrymore, whose biography, *Good Night, Sweet Prince*, garnered critical acclaim and is regarded as one of the finest actor biographies. Fowler's literary contributions spanned across screenplays, plays, novels, and poetry, leaving a lasting legacy in American literature. He passed away in 1960, and his son, Gene Fowler, Jr., followed in his footsteps, achieving recognition in the film industry.
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Gene Fowler
Writer
- Born: March 8, 1890
- Birthplace: Denver, Colorado
- Died: July 2, 1960
- Place of death: Los Angeles, California
Biography
Gene Fowler was born Eugene Devlan in Denver, Colorado, in 1890, and later took his stepfather’s surname, Fowler. In 1912, he began working as a writer for the Denver Republican, but he soon moved to the Rocky Mountain News to become its city editor. He married Agnes Hubbard on July 19, 1916, and they had three children.
Fowler was working in Denver when he happened to run into an acquaintance, the writer Damon Runyon, at the Denver Press Club. Runyon was impressed by Fowler’s writing skills and invited him to New York to seek employment there. In 1918, Fowler followed Runyon’s advice and moved to New York. The initial results of this move were disappointing, and Fowler returned to Denver.
Shortly thereafter, Runyon called and offered Fowler a job as a sports writer for the New York American newspaper. This time, Fowler found a great deal of success in New York and quickly advanced to managing editor of the newspaper at the age of thirty-four. While at the New York American, Fowler met and interviewed famed actorJohn Barrymore, which began a lifelong friendship. Fowler became the editor of the New York Morning Telegraph in 1928.
Fowler left journalism in 1931 to become a freelance screenwriter and biographer of well-known people. His first notable screenplay was for What Price Hollywood? (1932), a film directed by George Cukor and starring Constance Bennett. Other screenplay credits include The Call of the Wild (1935), White Fang (1936), Some Like It Hot (1939), and Billy the Kid (1941).
In addition to his screenplays, Fowler wrote stage plays, novels, and poetry, but he is best known for his biographies of famous personalities. He wrote about William J. Fallon, a New York lawyer who represented criminal kingpins, actor Jimmy Durante, and film producer Mack Sennett. Fowler’s most poignant book was Good Night, Sweet Prince, his biography of his longtime friend, John Barrymore; this book is considered one of the best biographies ever written about an actor. Both critically acclaimed and a best-seller, the book solidified Fowler’s enduring mark among writers.
Fowler died in 1960. His oldest son, Gene Fowler, Jr., followed his father into the motion picture business. He became an award-winning film editor and president of the American Cinema Editors, and he directed the cult film I Was a Teenage Werewolf.