Here is the biography of Edgar Selwyn:
Edgar Selwyn was born Edgar Simon on October 20, 1875, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His family later moved to Toronto, Canada, and then to Selma, Alabama, where his parents passed away. At the age of 17, Selwyn moved to Chicago to seek his fortune, but he struggled financially and eventually decided to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge. However, he landed on ice and was accosted by a thief, who turned out to be a pawnshop owner. This incident inspired Selwyn's 1915 play "Rolling Stones."
Selwyn struggled to make a living, working as a haberdasher and an usher at a theater. He eventually found success as an actor, playwright, and theatrical producer. He worked with William Gillette, a famous actor and director, and appeared in several plays, including "The King's Musketeers" and "Arizona."
Selwyn turned to playwriting in 1906 and wrote several successful plays, including "Pierre and His People," which was adapted into a film in 1914. He also wrote "The Arab," which was made into a film in 1915.
In 1914, Selwyn founded Selwyn & Company, Inc., a theatrical production company and play brokerage. He built the Selwyn Theater in 1918 and produced several successful plays, including "Within the Law" and "The Royal Family."
Selwyn also produced films through his company, All Star Feature Films Corp., and later merged with Samuel Goldfish's company to form Goldwyn Pictures Corp. The company was later renamed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and became one of the most famous film studios in the world.
Selwyn was married twice, first to Margaret Mayo, a playwright and Broadway impresario, and then to Ruth Wilcox, who was 30 years his junior. He had a stepson, Russell "Rusty" Selwyn, and was survived by his brother, Arch, and two sisters.
Selwyn died on February 14, 1944, at the age of 68, from a cerebral hemorrhage. He was a prolific writer, director, and producer who made significant contributions to the world of theater and film.
