Milestone, Lewis, 1895-1980

Lewis Milestone was an Oscar Award-winning film director active between the 1910s and 1960s, known for his work on All Quiet on the Western Front (1930). Milestone was born as Lev Milstein on September 30, 1895 in Kisinev, Russia (currently Chișinău, Moldova). He quit his engineering studies in Germany to pursue acting in the United States in 1912. Milestone changed his name after attaining US citizenship in 1919, and proceeded to work under directors including Henry King. In 1925, Milestone directed his first film, Seven Sinners, and directed his first Academy Award-winning film, the Howard Hughes-produced Two Arabian Knights, in 1927. During his time with Hughes, Milestone also directed THe Racket (1928) and The Front Page (1931), both of which were nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Milestone is also known for directing Ocean's 11 (1960).

Milestone died on September 25, 1980 in Westood, California.

Sources:

"Lewis Milestone." Find a Grave. May 22, 2000. Accessed April 7, 2022. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9468/lewis-milestone

Flint, Peter B. "Lewis Milestone, 84, Director of Films." New York Times. September 27, 1980. Accessed April 4, 2022. https://www.proquest.com/hnpnewyorktimes/docview/121026057/fulltextPDF/F31E4CE6417F44A3PQ