Disambiguation: Also the name of his uncle, David James (actor).David Belasco (July 25, 1853 – May 14, 1931) was an American theatrical producer, impresario, director and playwright. He was the first writer to adapt the short story Madame Butterfly for the stage, and he launched the theatrical career of Mary Pickford. Belasco pioneered many innovative new forms of stage lighting and special effects.
July 25, 1853, San Francisco, California, United States
Died
May 14, 1931, New York City, New York, United States
Place Of Birth
San Francisco, California, USA
Profession
Writer, Miscellaneous Crew, Producer
Spouse
Cecilia Loverich (m. 1880–1931)
Children
Augusta Belasco, Reina Belasco
Star Sign
Leo
#
Fact
1
Composer Giacomo Puccini based two of his most successful operas, "Madama Butterfly" and "La Fanciulla del West", on two of Belasco's plays.
2
Famous Broadway playwright, producer, director and impresario.
3
March 18, 1873 - made his stage debut at the Metropolitan Theatre playing Emperor Norton in the play "The Gold Demon". It is this role which earned him his nicknames: Governor, and The Bishop of Broadway.
Gave Mary Pickford her stage name. Her real name, Gladys Marie Smith, wasn't right for the stage. Gladys didn't suit her, Smith was too common, Marie wasn't common enough. "Marie" became "Mary". Pickford was her mother's maiden name.
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
La fanciulla del West
2009
TV Movie after
Madama Butterfly
2004/II
TV Movie after
La fanciulla del West
1992
TV Movie after the play by: "The Girl of the Golden West"
La fanciulla del West
1991
TV Movie play "The Girl of the Golden West"
Madama Butterfly
1986
TV Movie based on the play by
Madama Butterfly
1983
TV Movie play
La fanciulla del West
1982
TV Movie play
Madama Butterfly
1975
TV Movie play
Madame Butterfly
1965
TV Movie play
Madame Butterfly
1954
play
The Girl of the Golden West
1954
TV Movie based on the play by
The Girl of the Golden West
1938
based on the play by
Rose of the Rancho
1936
play
The Return of Peter Grimm
1935
from the play written by
Madame Butterfly
1932
play
The Son-Daughter
1932
based on the play by
The Hatchet Man
1932
play "The Honorable Mr. Wong"
Kiki
1931
based on the play by
The Girl of the Golden West
1930
play
Du Barry, Woman of Passion
1930
play
Sweet Kitty Bellairs
1930
a musical version of the stage play by
Ladies of Leisure
1930
adapted from stage play
Laugh, Clown, Laugh
1928
play
The Heart of Maryland
1927
play
The Music Master
1927
play
Pawn Ticket 210
1926
unpublished play
The Return of Peter Grimm
1926
play
Men and Women
1925
play
Tiger Rose
1923
play
The Girl of the Golden West
1923
play
The Case of Becky
1921
play
The Heart of Maryland
1921
play
Harakiri
1919
play "Madame Butterfly"
La belle Russe
1919
play
Sweet Kitty Bellairs
1916
play
Zaza
1915
play
The Case of Becky
1915
play
May Blossom
1915
play / screenplay
The Heart of Maryland
1915
play
DuBarry
1915
play
The Girl of the Golden West
1915
play
The Girl I Left Behind Me
1915
play
Rose of the Rancho
1914
play
Men and Women
1914
Short story
La Belle Russe
1914
play
Lord Chumley
1914
Short play
The Wife
1914/I
Short play
The Stocking Scene from 'Naughty Anthony'
1900
Short play
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Girl and the Gambler
1939
producer: stage play
Follow the Fleet
1936
play "Shore Leave" as produced by
The Return of Peter Grimm
1935
producer: play
The Case of Becky
1915
presenter
The Woman
1915
presenter
The Warrens of Virginia
1915
presenter
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Friendly Enemies
1925
producer
Tiger Rose
1923
producer
The Gold Diggers
1923
producer
A Good Little Devil
1914
supervising producer
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
A Star Over Night
1919
Short
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Man Without a Face
1993
writer: "CH'ELLA MI CREDA" from LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST - as D. Belasco
$5 Million
