Clara S. Beranger, a renowned screenwriter, was born in the vibrant city of Baltimore, Maryland, and went on to become a prestigious Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Goucher College in Baltimore in 1907. Initially, she began her career by writing articles for newspapers and magazines, before taking a chance by submitting a screenplay, which surprisingly gained acceptance. This marked the beginning of her journey in the film industry, as she soon found herself working for several prominent studios, including Edison, Kalem, Vitagraph, and Fox.
By 1919, Beranger had already penned an impressive 100 screenplays, earning her a reported annual salary of $75,000 from Famous Players-Lasky. Her remarkable success in the industry led her to marry producer William DeMille, brother of renowned director C.B. DeMille, in 1928. The couple exchanged vows on a train in New Mexico, marking the second marriage for both, and remained together until DeMille's passing in 1955.
Following her retirement from the film industry, Beranger went on to teach screenwriting at the University of Southern California. A devoutly religious individual, she authored the books "Peace Begins at Home" and "You Can Be Happy", as well as writing for the inspirational "Guideposts" magazine. Tragically, Beranger's life was cut short when she succumbed to a heart attack in Los Angeles in September 1956, at the age of 70.
