Hal B. Wallis Biography

Fast Facts

• A building inside the Eisenhower Medical Center in his hometown of Rancho Mirage was dedicated to him
• Quote: "Star quality is almost impossible to define․ But when you see brilliant talent, it registers immediately․ It's magic․"
• Following several successful films with Warner Brothers, he would leave the studio in 1944 to start his own production company where he found even more success with films including a slew of Elvis Presley and John Wayne starrers
• After securing a job at a theater owned by Warner Brothers, he caught the eye of studio executive Jack L․ Warner who promoted him to the publicity department
• Had a hand in the making of more than 400 Hollywood films throughout his career
• Reportedly disliked by Darryl F․ Zanuck and would only begin to be promoted after Zanuck left Warner Brothers in 1933
• Hired writer Ayn Rand as a screenwriter for his new production company after meeting her at Warner Brothers