Actor, Director. The brother of Oscar-winning cinematographer Harold Rosson, director Arthur Rosson, and silent screen idol Helene Rosson, he entered films as an actor in 1912, billing himself as Dick Rosson. His boyish looks and slight build typed him for comedies and light relief in dramas, such as "The Patchwork Girl of Oz" (1914), "Number Please?" (1916), "The Secret Garden" (1919), and "Polly of the Storm Country" (1920). He married his frequent co-star, Vera Sisson, in 1921. Having taken an initial stab at directing with "Her Father's Keeper" (1917), Rosson became a full-time director in 1926 and turned out a handful of interesting films, among them a Gloria Swanson vehicle, "Fine Manners" (1926), the bedroom farce "Blonde or Brunette" (1927), "Rolled Stockings" (1927) with Louise Brooks, and the murder mystery "The Wizard" (1927). But his career came to an abrupt halt after the failure of his first talkie, "The Very Idea" (1929). Howard Hawks revived his fortunes by hiring him as his assistant on "Scarface" (1932) and sharing co-director credit with Rosson for "Today We Live" (1933). He continued to do second-unit chores for Hawks while helming occasional B pictures, including "West Point of the Air" (1935), "Behind the Headlines" (1937), and "Hideaway" (1937). His last film was a good World War II drama, "Corvette K-225" (1943), though many believe it was directed by Hawks, who produced. Reportedly despondent over failing health, Rosson ended his life by carbon monoxide poisoning. His widow committed suicide a year later.
Actor, Director. The brother of Oscar-winning cinematographer Harold Rosson, director Arthur Rosson, and silent screen idol Helene Rosson, he entered films as an actor in 1912, billing himself as Dick Rosson. His boyish looks and slight build typed him for comedies and light relief in dramas, such as "The Patchwork Girl of Oz" (1914), "Number Please?" (1916), "The Secret Garden" (1919), and "Polly of the Storm Country" (1920). He married his frequent co-star, Vera Sisson, in 1921. Having taken an initial stab at directing with "Her Father's Keeper" (1917), Rosson became a full-time director in 1926 and turned out a handful of interesting films, among them a Gloria Swanson vehicle, "Fine Manners" (1926), the bedroom farce "Blonde or Brunette" (1927), "Rolled Stockings" (1927) with Louise Brooks, and the murder mystery "The Wizard" (1927). But his career came to an abrupt halt after the failure of his first talkie, "The Very Idea" (1929). Howard Hawks revived his fortunes by hiring him as his assistant on "Scarface" (1932) and sharing co-director credit with Rosson for "Today We Live" (1933). He continued to do second-unit chores for Hawks while helming occasional B pictures, including "West Point of the Air" (1935), "Behind the Headlines" (1937), and "Hideaway" (1937). His last film was a good World War II drama, "Corvette K-225" (1943), though many believe it was directed by Hawks, who produced. Reportedly despondent over failing health, Rosson ended his life by carbon monoxide poisoning. His widow committed suicide a year later.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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