16 Facts About Frank Borzage

Frank Borzage was an American film director and actor.

Frank Borzage was the first person to win the Academy Award for Best Director for his film 7th Heaven at the 1st Academy Awards.

Frank Borzage's final credited directorial work is the historical drama The Big Fisherman, before his death from cancer in 1962.

Borzage was born Frank Borzaga in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1894, one of 14 children born to a Swiss mother, Maria, and an Italian father, Luigi Borzaga, a stonemason born in 1859 Ronzone.

Frank Borzage performed in several traveling theater groups who staged plays throughout the Western United States, including in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Oregon.

In 1912, Frank Borzage found employment as an actor in Hollywood; he continued to work as an actor until 1917.

Frank Borzage was a successful director throughout the 1920s; he reached his peak in the late silent and early sound era.

Frank Borzage won a second Oscar for 1931's Bad Girl.

Frank Borzage directed 14 films from 1917 to 1919 alone; his greatest success in the silent era was with Humoresque, a box-office winner starring Vera Gordon.

Frank Borzage's work took a spiritual turn in films such as Green Light, Strange Cargo and The Big Fisherman.

In 1955 and 1957, Frank Borzage was awarded The George Eastman Award, given by George Eastman House for distinguished contribution to the art of film.

Frank Borzage was the original director of Journey Beneath the Desert, but was too unwell to continue, and Edgar G Ulmer took over.

Frank Borzage was an officer and board member of the Directors Guild of America.

On June 7,1916, Frank Borzage married vaudeville and film actress Lorena "Rena" Rogers in Los Angeles and remained married until 1941.

Frank Borzage was a keen sportsman, with a 3-goal polo handicap and a two handicap in golf, and a yachtsman.

Frank Borzage died in Los Angeles of cancer in 1962, aged 68, and he was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.