born Aug. 12, 1881, Ashfield, Mass., U.S.
died Jan. 21, 1959, Hollywood, Calif.
U.S. film director and producer.
In 1913 he joined Jesse Lasky (18801958) and Samuel Goldwyn to form the forerunner of Paramount Communications . Their first venture, The Squaw Man (1914), was the first full-length feature film produced in Hollywood, and it established DeMille as a director. He made numerous comedies before creating biblical spectacles such as The Ten Commandments (1923, remade 1956) and The King of Kings (1927). He was known for his flamboyance and his taste for huge casts and extravagant sets. Among his 70 other films are Samson and Delilah (1949) and The Greatest Show on Earth (1952, Academy Award for best picture). He also hosted the popular weekly Lux Radio Theatre (193645).