Biography for
Jack L. Warner More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

2 August 1892, London, Ontario, Canada

Date of Death

9 September 1978, Los Angeles, California, USA (pulmonary edema and a heart inflammation)

Birth Name

John Eichelbaum

Mini Biography

With his brothers Harry M. Warner, Albert Warner, and Sam Warner, he founded Warner Bros. Pictures Inc. in 1923. They released the first motion picture with synchronized sound, The Jazz Singer (1927) with Al Jolson. In the 1930s they gave employment to a parade of stars, including Bette Davis, Errol Flynn and Paul Muni, as well as James Cagney, Edward G. Robinson, and a man whose star would eventually rise in the 1940s, Humphrey Bogart. Decades later, the firm's successor, Warner Communications Inc., merged with Time Inc. to become Time Warner Inc., the world's largest media and entertainment company.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Bill Takacs <kinephile@aol.com>

Spouse

Ann Boyar	(1936 - 9 September 1978) (his death)
Irma Solomon	(1916 - 1935) (divorced) 1 child

Trivia

One of the 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)

At the 16th Academy Awards ceremony, when Casablanca (1942) was named Best Picture, Hal B. Wallis, the film's producer, was on his way to the stage to accept the Oscar when Jack cut him off and accepted on behalf of the studio. At the time, the Oscar for Best Picture customarily went to the studio. But, Jack's public rudeness had two consequences: first, Wallis resigned from Warner Brothers in protest; second, producers began exerting more power with the Academy. Within eight years, starting with An American in Paris (1951), the Oscar for Best Picture would go to the film's producer(s) instead of the studio.

The youngest of 12 children.

Co-founder of Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc., along with brothers Harry M. Warner (the company's president), Sam Warner (the CEO) and Albert Warner (the treasurer). Was the studio's executive in charge of production until 1967 when he sold the studio to Seven Arts. (He lost interest in the studio after the death of Albert made him the last surviving Warner brother).

In 1903, his father bought a nickelodeon in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Jack was a boy soprano who sang between films. He went on a singing tour of vaudeville theaters in the Mid-Atlantic States, but returned home when his brothers decided to go into movie production.

Father of producer Jack Warner Jr.

Stepfather of Joy Page

The "L" in his adopted name stood for "Leonard."

Is portrayed by Tim Woodward in RKO 281 (1999) (TV), by Richard Dysart in Bogie (1980) (TV), by Hal Linden in My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn (1985) (TV), by Danny Wells in Gleason (2002) (TV), by Mike Connors in James Dean: Race with Destiny (1997) (TV), by Richard M. Davidson in Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001) (TV), by Len Kaserman in The Three Stooges (2000) (TV), by Barry Langrishe in The Mystery of Natalie Wood (2004) (TV), by Mark Rydell in James Dean (2001) (TV), by Jason Wingreen in Malice in Wonderland (1985) (TV) and by Michael Lerner in This Year's Blonde (1980) (TV).

Was fraternity brothers with Sam Morse (Samuel Morse), grandfather of Shane Stanley.

He was a staunch conservative Republican and an active supporter of the Hollywood blacklist. He personally testified as a friendly witness before the House Unamerican Activities Committee (HUAC) in 1947, naming twelve screenwriters as Communist sympathizers (all were subsequently blacklisted).

Tried to block the production of Bonnie and Clyde (1967), a film he hated, until he saw the long lines of people waiting to see it. Then he said: "Now I like it".

In the 1960s he was a fierce critic of opponents of the Vietnam War.

Actively campaigned for Richard Nixon in the 1960 presidential election, even buying full-page ads in major newspapers entitled, "Why Nixon Should be President".

By the end of 1973, those closest to Warner became aware of signs that he was becoming disoriented. Shortly after losing his way in the building that housed his own office, Warner retired. In 1974, the former studio chief suffered a stroke that left him blind and enfeebled. During the next several years, he gradually lost the ability to speak and became unresponsive to friends and relatives.

Left an estate worth $15 million.

Narrowly escaped death in a car crash on 5 August 1958.

Removed the song "Cool Considerate Man" from the musical 1776 (1972) on the suggestion of his close friend President Richard Nixon, who felt it could be used as anti-Republican propaganda in an election year.

His second wife was actress Ann Boyar (1908-1990), aka Ann Page or Ann Paige. She was the daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants. Actress Joy Page was his stepdaughter.

He and second wife Ann Boyar had a daughter, Barbara Warner.

Began as an enthusiastic Democrat, supporting President Franklin D. Roosevelt when Louis B. Mayer and most other studio chiefs were anti-FDR Republicans. Became a Republican later during the post-WWII McCarthy "Red Scare" era.

President of Al St. John Comedies, a production company formed to make films for comedian Al St. John.

Personal Quotes

[to an assistant on being introduced to Madame Chiang, the wife of Chinese president Kai-Shek Chiang] That reminds me, I need to pick up my laundry.

[to Albert Einstein] I have a theory of relativity, too. I never hire them.

If it's anything I can't stand it's yes-men. When I say no, I want you to say no, too.

[on criticism of the dubbing of My Fair Lady (1964)] I don't know what all the fuss is about. We've been doing it for years. We even dubbed Rin Tin Tin.

[about actor Paul Muni, who had a tendency to wear such heavy makeup that Warner feared the public couldn't recognize him from movie to movie] Why are we paying him so much money when we can't find him?

[on Errol Flynn] You know Flynn, he's either got to be fighting or fucking.

I don't want it good. I want it Tuesday.

[on the suggestion that Warners should film the novel "Dark Victory"] Who wants to see some dame go blind and die?