Tay Garnett
Biography
William Taylor Tay Garnett was an American film director, writer, and producer. Born on June 13, 1894, in Los Angeles, California, his career spanned more than four decades and fifty-five years, during which he worked in various genres and made nearly 50 films. He was best known for directing the film-noir classic The Postman Always Rings Twice, released in 1946, and also directed China Seas and Her Man. Throughout his career, Garnett accumulated 95 known credits in directing. He spent the months of February and March in 1930 on Catalina Island writing Her Man alongside writer Howard Higgin. Garnett passed away on October 3, 1977, at the age of 83.
Career overview
William Taylor Tay Garnett was born on June 13, 1894, in Los Angeles, California, and died on October 3, 1977. He was an American film director, writer, and producer whose career spanned more than four decades and lasted 55 years. During this extensive career, Garnett worked in a variety of genres and made nearly 50 films. Among his known credits, he is particularly well known for directing the 1946 film noir classic The Postman Always Rings Twice, as well as China Seas.
In addition to his directing work, Garnett collaborated with writer Howard Higgin. In February and March of 1930, the two spent time on Catalina Island sharing a house with Lewis Milestone while writing Her Man. Throughout his active years in the industry, Garnett established a substantial filmography encompassing numerous movies and television shows, securing his legacy as a notable American director and screenwriter within the film industry.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
116 titles- Challenge to be Free (1975) Director
- Timber Tramps (1975) Director
- The Delta Factor (1970) Director
- The Delta Factor (1970) Producer
- The Delta Factor (1970) Screenplay
- The Loner (1965) Director
- The Legend of Jesse James (1965) Director
- The Best of Cinerama (1963) Director
- Cattle King (1963) Director
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- 87th Precinct (1961) Director
- The Tall Man (1960) Director
- Overland Trail (1960) Director
- A Terrible Beauty (1960) Director
- Rawhide (1959) Director
- The Deputy (1959) Director
- Naked City (1958) Director
- Alcoa Theatre (1957) Director
- Partners (1956) Director
- The Carroll Formula (1956) Director
- Seven Wonders of the World (1956) Director
- Gunsmoke (1955) Director
- Screen Director's Playhouse (1955) Director
- The Black Knight (1954) Director
- Letter to Loretta (1953) Director
- Main Street to Broadway (1953) Director
- Death Valley Days (1952) Director
- One Minute to Zero (1952) Director
- One Minute to Zero (1952) Producer
- Soldiers Three (1951) Director
- Cause for Alarm! (1951) Director
- The Fireball (1950) Director
- The Fireball (1950) Writer
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1949) Director
- Wild Harvest (1947) Director
- The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) Director
- The Valley of Decision (1945) Director
- Mrs. Parkington (1944) Director
- The Cross of Lorraine (1943) Director
- Bataan (1943) Director
- My Favorite Spy (1942) Director
- Cheers for Miss Bishop (1941) Director
- Unexpected Uncle (1941) Producer
- Weekend for Three (1941) Producer
- Seven Sinners (1940) as Drunken Sailor (uncredited)
- Seven Sinners (1940) Director
- Cafe Hostess (1940) Writer
- Slightly Honorable (1939) as Reporter (Uncredited)
- Slightly Honorable (1939) Director
- Slightly Honorable (1939) Producer
- Eternally Yours (1939) as Pilot (uncredited)
- Eternally Yours (1939) Director
- Eternally Yours (1939) Producer
- Joy of Living (1938) as Man on Phone in Newspaper Office (Uncredited)
- Joy of Living (1938) Director
- Joy of Living (1938) Producer
- Trade Winds (1938) Director
- Trade Winds (1938) Story
- Trade Winds (1938) Producer
- Slave Ship (1937) Director
- Stand-In (1937) Director
- Love Is News (1937) Director
- China Seas (1935) Director
- She Couldn't Take It (1935) Director
- Professional Soldier (1935) Director
- Destination Unknown (1933) Director
- S.O.S. Iceberg (1933) Director
- Prestige (1932) Director
- Prestige (1932) Adaptation
- Okay, America! (1932) as Man in Newspaper Office (uncredited)
- Okay, America! (1932) Director
- One Way Passage (1932) Director
- Panama Flo (1932) Co-Director
- Bad Company (1931) Director
- Bad Company (1931) Writer
- Her Man (1930) Director
- Her Man (1930) Screenstory
- Officer O'Brien (1930) Director
- Oh, Yeah! (1929) Director
- Oh, Yeah! (1929) Writer
- The Flying Fool (1929) Director
- The Cop (1928) Scenario Writer
- The Cop (1928) Writer
- Power (1928) Screenplay
- Power (1928) Story
- Celebrity (1928) Director
- The Spieler (1928) Director
- The Spieler (1928) Writer
- Skyscraper (1928) Writer
- No Control (1927) Writer
- Turkish Delight (1927) Writer
- Getting Gertie's Garter (1927) Writer
- Long Pants (1927) Writer
- White Gold (1927) Adaptation
- The Wise Wife (1927) Screenplay
- Fiddlesticks (1927) Title Graphics
- Rubber Tires (1927) Adaptation
- The Funnymooners (1926) Story
- There You Are! (1926) Writer
- The Cruise of the Jasper B (1926) Adaptation
- That's My Baby (1926) Writer
- Up in Mabel's Room (1926) Writer
- Twins (1925) Writer
- All Wool (1925) Director
- Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pride (1925) Writer
- Navy Blue Days (1925) Writer
- The Sleuth (1925) Writer
- Riders of the Kitchen Range (1925) Director
- Galloping Bungalows (1924) Writer
- West of Hot Dog (1924) Title Designer
- Fast Black (1924) Director
- Off His Trolley (1924) Story
- Mandarin Mix-Up (1924) Writer
- Detained (1924) Writer
- Broken Chains (1922) Writer
- The Quack Doctor (1920) Scenario Writer
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Tay Garnett best known for?
Tay Garnett is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Village of the Damned (1960), Gone in 60 Seconds (1974), The Best of Cinerama (1963), Cattle King (1963).
When and where was Tay Garnett born?
Tay Garnett was born on June 13, 1894 in Los Angeles, California, USA. They passed away on October 3, 1977.
How many credits does Tay Garnett have?
Tay Garnett has accumulated over 116 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1920 to 1975.
What is Tay Garnett's background in cinema and television?
William Taylor Tay Garnett was an American film director, writer, and producer. Born on June 13, 1894, in Los Angeles, California, his career spanned more than four decades and fifty-five years, during which he worked in various genres and made nearly 50 films. He was best known for directing the film-noir classic The ...
Tay Garnett by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self — aged about 68
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