Oliver H. P. Garrett's life took shape on March 6, 1894, in the historic city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, a place steeped in cultural richness and tradition, as the offspring of Legh Osborn Garrett, a pioneering efficiency expert whose untimely demise in 1899 left his mother, Alice Palmer Garrett, to confront the daunting task of raising a young child solo.
As the years went by and Garrett matured, he discovered an unwavering passion for the art of writing, which subsequently led him to embark on a career in journalism.
He began his professional journey by working for newspapers in the esteemed cities of Boston and New York, where he diligently honed his writing skills by crafting captivating stories for various esteemed magazines.
It was his remarkable writing talent that ultimately paved the way for him to venture into the glamorous world of Hollywood, where he arrived in the year 1927, eager to take on fresh challenges and make a lasting impression in the esteemed film industry.
Garrett's remarkable achievements in the Hollywood film industry were a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication, as he not only co-wrote the screenplay for the timeless classic Manhattan Melodrama in 1934, but also received widespread recognition in the form of an Academy Award, which he shared with the renowned writer and director Joseph L. Mankiewicz. This prestigious honor was a crowning achievement in Garrett's illustrious career, and a fitting tribute to his skill and craftsmanship as a screenwriter.
Furthermore, Garrett played a pivotal role in the development of the Screen Writers Guild, serving as a founding member and holding the esteemed position of two-term vice president. Through his tireless efforts, he helped establish the organization's foundation and shape its future, playing a crucial part in shaping the industry's landscape and ensuring the rights and interests of screenwriters were protected. His dedication to the craft and his colleagues was unwavering, and his contributions to the Screen Writers Guild will always be remembered as a testament to his commitment to the art of storytelling.
Garrett's life was tragically brought to an abrupt and untimely end on the twenty-second day of February in the year nineteen hundred and fifty-two, when he suddenly and unexpectedly succumbed to a fatal heart attack while engaged in a routine shopping excursion in the bustling metropolis of New York City.
This devastating loss left behind a loving and devoted wife, as well as three young sons, who undoubtedly cherished the countless memories they had shared with Garrett and continued his legacy in their own unique and meaningful ways.
