David O. Selznick

Producer extraordinaire David O. Selznick will be forever known as a Hollywood rebel who pushed boundaries and introduced many future stars to movie goers. He was born to silent movie distributor Lewis Selznick, and he added the "O" as an initial because he thought it made him sound more distinguished. He studied at Columbia University and worked at MGM and Paramount during the 1920s to learn the picture business. In 1931, Selznick became the head of production at RKO where he produced a steady stream of outstanding films like "A Bill of Divorcement," which introduced the world to Katharine Hepburn, and the marvelous fantasy "King Kong." He then moved to MGM and produced the Charles Dickens adaptation "David Copperfield" before leaving that company to start his own production house. It was at this point that Selznick spent many years getting the epic drama "Gone with the Wind" to the screen, and his obsessive attention to detail paid off handsomely. Adjusted for inflation, "Gone with the Wind" remains the most lucrative movie ever made. In 1940, Selznick produced the psychological thriller "Rebecca," the first American film for Alfred Hitchcock. After winning two consecutive Best Picture Oscars. Selznick couldn't repeat his success. He settled into promoting the career of his wife, the ethereal Jennifer Jones, including casting her in the western "Duel in the Sun." Selznick passed away at age 63 from a heart attack.