page_title: William C. deMille
section_title: Biography
hierarchical_section_title: William C. deMille / Biography
caption_attribution_description: English: Willam C. de Mille (sometimes spelled DeMille) directing a film using a "Magna Vox" amplification device. Photograph on page 74 of the February 1921 Photoplay magazine.
context_page_description: William Churchill DeMille was an American screenwriter and film director from the silent film era through the early 1930s. He was also a noted playwright prior to moving into film. Once he was established in film he specialized in adapting Broadway plays into silent films.
context_section_description: De Mille was born in Washington, North Carolina, to Henry Churchill de Mille (1853–1893), an actor and playwright from North Carolina, and Matilda Beatrice Samuel (1853–1923) who was also a play and screenwriter. Her father was a Christian whilst his mother was born to a Sephardic Jewish family in Liverpool but converted to her husband's faith.
  William was the elder brother of Cecil B. DeMille, who altered the capitalization of his last name when he went to Hollywood, claiming that it fit better on marquees. (William continued to be known as "de Mille", and his daughter Agnes also chose "de Mille".) William received a bachelor's degree from Columbia University followed by graduate studies at the Academy of Dramatic Arts, at schools in Germany, and a second stint at Columbia studying under Brander Matthews.
  In 1903, he married Anna Angela George, the daughter of notable economist Henry George. Anna and William had two children, Agnes de Mille – named after a younger sister who died in childhood – who became a noted choreographer and Peggy George, who became an actress.
  Professionally, their life was stable. In 1905, he became successful Broadway playwright, following its development in 1904.
  William had nine plays he wrote or co-wrote – one of them with Cecil – produced on Broadway between 1905 and 1913, and another two productions mounted in 1929 and 1936, the latter of which he produced and directed as well.
  His first play, Strongheart was eventually released as a movie by his brother as Braveheart (1925). Two of William's works, The Warrens of Virginia (1907) and The Woman (1911) were produced by the flamboyant impresario David Belasco. The former featured future film star Mary Pickford and Cecil, both struggling actors playing minor roles.
  He wrote a number of vaudeville sketches including In 1999, Food, Poor Old Jim, The Squealer, The Martyrs, and The Deceivers.
  Cecil eventually moved to Hollywood, and William followed. His directorial debut was The Only Son (1914).
caption: De Mille directing a scene using a "Magna Vox" voice amplification device
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