Born in Essex, England, Alfred Hitchcock went to St. Ignatius College before attending the London County Council School of Marine Engineering and Navigation. He worked in the sales department at W.T. Henley's Telegraph Works Company, enrolled at the University of London to take drawing and design classes, and in 1918 he moved into the advertising department. In 1920 he landed a spot designing title cards for silent films for the American film company, Famous Players in Islington. When Famous Players closed its British branch in 1922, he stayed on at Islington, assuming more responsibility, working as art director, production designer, editor, writer and director. His first film as a director was the 1922 comedy Mrs. Peabody (called Number 13), which was not completed, due to lack of funding. His first released film was the 1923 film Always Tell Your Wife, which he codirected with its star Seymour Hicks, but he did not receive credit.
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock died of kidney failure at age 80.
