Born into a poor family in the English Midlands, Whale was determined not to enter a manual trade. While serving in WWI, he worked his way up to the rank of second lieutenant before the Germans captured him. He spent the remainder of the war organising a theatrical company and winning at cards in a POW camp. After the Armistice, Whale used his poker winnings as a stake to enter the theatrical work.

Whale started out a a newspaper cartoonist, then embarked on a stage career, trying his hand at acting, set designing, and directing. After moving to Hollywood in 1930, he created some of the most intelligent and witty films of the horror genre, as well as adapting a number of stage and literary works to film. Whale "lived openly as a homosexual in discreetly closeted Hollywood" with his lover, David Lewis (producer, studio exececutive) for more than 26 years.

Facing discrimination in the industry due to his sexual orientation, he retired from film in 1942 to become a painter. Whale ended his sexual relationship with Lewis in the eraly 1950s, and hosted pool parties attended almost exclusively by young gay men whom he tried to impress. He began a relationship with Pierre Fogel, a young man who had served as his chauffeur. After having a nervous breakdown, Whale explained he wanted forgo old age and pain, and threw himself into the shallow end of his pool.

Source: excerpts from: Aldrich R. & Wotherspoon G., Who's Who in Gay and Lesbian History, from Antiquity to WWII, Routledge, London, 2001 - et alii

Films: Journey's End (1930) Frankenstein (1931) Waterloo Bridge (1931) The Impatient Maiden (1932) The Old Dark House (1932) The Invisible Man (1933) The Kiss Before the Mirror (1933) By Candlelight (1934) One More River (1934) The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Remember Last Night? (1935) Show Boat (1936) The Great Garrick (1937) The Road Back (1937) Sinners in Paradise (1938) Port of Seven Seas (1938) Wives Under Suspicion (1938) The Man in the Iron Mask (1939) Green Hell (1940) They Dare not Love (1941)