Mauritz Stiller

July 17, 1883 — Helsinki, Finland

Mauritz Stiller (Moshe Stiller) was a Finnish-Swedish film director, actor and writer, probably best known for discovering Greta Garbo and bringing her to America. With Victor Sjöström he created the production company AB Svensk Filminspelning in 1922. Stiller was a major force in the international film industry and recognized for his refined narrator structure with different fictional levels. He produced some 50 feature films between 1912-1928. After frequent disagreements with studio executives at MGM and Paramount, Stiller returned to Sweden, where he died soon afterwards. 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.