- Nephew of Marion Davies.
- Introduced by Ben Hecht to prominent New York literati, he became a junior member of the legendary Algonquin Round Table, presided over by writer and noted wit Dorothy Parker.
- Had one son, Daniel, from his marriage to actress Anne Shirley. Daniel later became a poet.
- American screenwriter, best known for his adaptations of comic subjects. Attended the University of California, Berkeley, graduating in 1929. Raised by his aunt, the actress Marion Davies. Through her connections to William Randolph Hearst, got a job as a journalist. Became a protégé of Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, collaborating on the screenplay for 'The Front Page' (additional dialogue). Subsequently, became a well-respected writer of sharp, witty scripts, doing some of his best work in conjunction with the director Howard Hawks. Was under contract at Paramount in the early 30's; later at MGM (1938-42) and 20th Century Fox (1949-53), in-between freelancing.
- His later years were marred by severe arthritis, which made him heavily dependent on pain-killing prescription drugs.
- Son of actress Reine Davies and director/producer George W. Lederer.
- Cousin of Patricia Lake and Arthur Lake.
- Anita Loos described Lederer's screen adaptation of her book "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" as "superb", even though it was a very free adaptation.
- In 1954, won three Tony Awards for "Kismet:" as Best Producer (Musical), as Best Author (Musical) with Luther Davis, and as co-author of the book who, with several collaborators, contributed to the Best Musical win.
- Luther Davis and his musical, "Kismet" at the Marriott Theatre in Chicago, Illinois was nominated for a 1997 Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Musical Production.
- Younger brother of Pepi Lederer.
- Stepson of George Regas.
- Ex-stepfather of Christopher Welles.
- He is believed to have had a brief and uncredited acting role in "City Lights" when he was a teenager and is sometimes credited with playing one of the witches in Orson Welles's film of "Macbeth" in 1948 - though this has been disputed.
- Ben Hecht dedicated his autobiographical book "Gaily, Gaily" to Lederer.
- At the age of 13 he was admitted to University of California-Berkeley as a freshman but he dropped out to take a position on the Hearst papers arranged for by his aunt Marion Davies.
- Stepfather of Julie Payne.
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