Wesley Ruggles

The brother of comic actor Charles Ruggles, Wesley Ruggles briefly followed in his brother's onscreen footsteps before forging a lengthy career as a director for such features as the Oscar-winning "Cimarron" (1931), "I'm No Angel" (1932) and "Arizona" (1940). He began directing in 1917, overseeing dozens of short comedies and melodramas before hitting his stride with the sprawling Western "Cimarron," which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Director. Ruggles would direct some fine Hollywood comedies during the 1930s, including "I'm No Angel" with Mae West, and several vehicles for Carole Lombard, including "No Man of Her Own" (1932). Though prolific, Ruggles' directorial efforts rarely evinced any particular style, save for a talent for maintaining the pace in lighthearted efforts. By the 1940s, his career had run aground, with the 1946 British musical comedy "London Town" serving as the costly epitaph for his tenure behind the camera. Upon his death in 1972, Ruggles was largely regarded as a hard-working if unremarkable filmmaker whose vast body of work included several sparkling high points in the comedy genre.