Mauritz Stiller

Film director, born in Helsinki, Finland. He settled in Sweden in 1909 and, though trained as an actor, began directing films for Svenska Bio in 1912. He adapted the novels of Selma Lagerlöf (1858–1940), notably Herr Arnes Pengar (1919, Sir Arne's Treasure), which won him international acclaim, Gunnar Hedes Saga (1922), and Gösta Berlings Saga (1924). His versatility is shown in Erotikon (1920), a sophisticated comedy about sexual rivalry. He discovered Greta Garbo, and took her to Hollywood in 1925, where he directed Hotel Imperial (1927), Woman On Trial (1927), and The Street of Sin (1927).

Mauritz Stiller (July 17, 1883 – November 18, 1928) was an actor, screenwriter and an influential silent film director.

By 1912 Stiller had become involved with Sweden's rapidly developing silent film industry. He began by writing scripts, plus acting and directing in short films but within a few years gave up on acting to devote his time to writing and directing. By 1920, having directed more than thirty-five films, Stiller was a leading figure in Swedish filmmaking. At the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm he met a young actress named Greta Gustafsson whom he cast in an important but secondary role in his film, Gösta Berlings saga (The Atonement of Gosta Berling) giving her the stage name Greta Garbo. For Stiller, the screen presence of the eighteen-year-old actress led to him bringing her to the United States after he accepted an offer from studio boss Louis B.

In Hollywood, Mauritz Stiller was assigned to direct 1926's The Temptress but he could not deal with studio structure and after repeated arguments with MGM executives he was replaced on the film by Fred Niblo and his contract with the studio terminated. Stiller was immediately hired by Famous Players-Lasky Corporation where he made three successful films but was let go a second time while directing his fourth as a result of his continuing disagreements with studio bosses.

Mauritz Stiller returned to Sweden in 1927 and died the following year from pleurisy at the age of forty-five.

Stiller's contribution to the motion picture industry has since been recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1713 Vine Street.