Film and Television Director. Following studies at the University of Virginia, King entered the film industry in 1917 as an actor, playing character roles, often portraying rough types, villains and drunks, before and shortly after becoming a director in 1927, sometimes billed as Lewis King. His 35 year career as director started with FBO (later RKO-Radio), turning out many low-budget Westerns. In 1929 he went to Columbia making several successful Buck Jones Western after which he made a variety of grade B productions for Fox, Warner Brothers and Paramount, swifting during the 1940`s into at least B-plus movies starring popular names like Fred MacMurray, Joel McCrea, Dick Powell and Victor Mature. His big screen credits include "Lone Rider" (1930), "Charlie Chan in Egypt" (1935), "Bulldog Drummond Comes Back" (1937), "Prison Farm" (1938), "Typhoon" (1940), "Smoky" (1946), the box-office smash "Green Grass of Wyoming" (1948), "Mrs. Mike" (1949), "Frenchie" (1950), "Sabre Jet" (1953), "Dangerous Mission" (1954) and "Massacre" (1956), his last motion picture. King then concentrated on Television, directing numerous segments of leading series like "Zane Grey Theater" (1957), "The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok" (1958), "Gunsmoke" (1959) and "The Deputy" (1960-61, starring Henry Fonda). He was the younger brother of legendary film director Henry King.
Film and Television Director. Following studies at the University of Virginia, King entered the film industry in 1917 as an actor, playing character roles, often portraying rough types, villains and drunks, before and shortly after becoming a director in 1927, sometimes billed as Lewis King. His 35 year career as director started with FBO (later RKO-Radio), turning out many low-budget Westerns. In 1929 he went to Columbia making several successful Buck Jones Western after which he made a variety of grade B productions for Fox, Warner Brothers and Paramount, swifting during the 1940`s into at least B-plus movies starring popular names like Fred MacMurray, Joel McCrea, Dick Powell and Victor Mature. His big screen credits include "Lone Rider" (1930), "Charlie Chan in Egypt" (1935), "Bulldog Drummond Comes Back" (1937), "Prison Farm" (1938), "Typhoon" (1940), "Smoky" (1946), the box-office smash "Green Grass of Wyoming" (1948), "Mrs. Mike" (1949), "Frenchie" (1950), "Sabre Jet" (1953), "Dangerous Mission" (1954) and "Massacre" (1956), his last motion picture. King then concentrated on Television, directing numerous segments of leading series like "Zane Grey Theater" (1957), "The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok" (1958), "Gunsmoke" (1959) and "The Deputy" (1960-61, starring Henry Fonda). He was the younger brother of legendary film director Henry King.
Bio by: Fritz Tauber
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