Woody Van Dyke

Woodbridge Strong "Woody" Van Dyke, Jr. (March 21, 1889 – February 5, 1943) was an American motion picture director. Born in San Diego, California, Van Dyke was a child actor on the vaudeville circuit, and in his early adult years was unsettled and moved from career to career until arriving in Hollywood. His first movie assignment was as an assistant director on the D. W. Griffith feature motion picture Intolerance (1916). During the silent era h... more

Woodbridge Strong "Woody" Van Dyke, Jr. (March 21, 1889 – February 5, 1943) was an American motion picture director. Born in San Diego, California, Van Dyke was a child actor on the vaudeville circuit, and in his early adult years was unsettled and moved from career to career until arriving in Hollywood. His first movie assignment was as an assistant director on the D. W. Griffith feature motion picture Intolerance (1916). During the silent era he learned his craft and by the advent of the talkies was one of MGM's most reliable directors. He came to be known as "One Take Woody" for the speed with which he would complete his assignments, and although not regarded as one of the screen's most talented directors, MGM regarded him as one of the most versatile, equally at home directing costume dramas, westerns, comedies, crime melodramas and musicals. Many of his films were huge hits and top box office in any given year. He received Academy Award for Best Director nominations for The Thin... less