- Born
- Died
- Birth nameEmanuel Adler
- While known mostly for his activities as a film producer, Maurice Buddy Adler attended both Columbia and Pennsylvania universities and wrote fiction short stories for magazines prior to becoming involved in the film industry. In 1936 he joined MGM Pictures as a writer for the regular series of short subjects that were popular at the time. He married actress Anita Louise in 1940 and served with the U.S. Army Signal Corps in World War II, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After the war he returned to MGM as a producer for a year and then moved to Columbia Pictures as a producer from 1949 to 1953. There he earned an Academy Award as producer of the Best Picture of the Year for 1953, From Here to Eternity (1953).
He left Columbia Pictures shortly thereafter and joined 20th Century-Fox, where in 1956 he succeeded Darryl F. Zanuck as Head of Production. He remained there until his death in 1960. He was the producer at Fox on a number of very successful films, many of which still enjoy a following today. Among those are Bus Stop (1956), A Hatful of Rain (1957), South Pacific (1958), Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957), The Left Hand of God (1955) and The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958).
Sadly both he and his wife died young, he at 51 from lung cancer and Miss Louise at 55 as the result of a stroke.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Leo J. O'Rourke
- SpouseAnita Louise(May 17, 1940 - July 12, 1960) (his death, 2 children)
- Gravestone reads "From Here To Eternity"
- Was set to executive produce Elvis Presley film Flaming Star (1960), but he died on July 12, 1960, prior to the start of principal photography. The extent of his contribution to the production prior to that time has not been determined.
- In January 1938 was arrested and charged with grand theft for issuing bad checks. His lawyer was Gregson Edward Bautzer who later was instrumental in landing him the job of President of Twentieth Century-Fox. He was acquitted.
- Children: Melanie and Anthony.
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