Lyricist, born in Germany, brought to the U.S. at the age of five. Educated in Chicago. Wrote songs for vaudeville and, subsequently, Broadway. Much of his film work was in collaboration with composers Sigmund Romberg, George Gershwin and Harry Warren. He was immortalised in a movie biopic, I'll See You in My Dreams (1951), portrayed by Danny Thomas.
Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.