American composer, screenwriter, actor and film director.
Born May 14, 1896 in New York City, New York.
Died June 24, 1959 in Hollywood, California. Father of Jerome Gottler.

He was educated at City College of New York and Long Island Business College. He composed the Broadway stage score for "Broadway Brevities", and wrote songs for the Ziegfeld Follies, Winter Garden revues, and English films and musicals. He was the director of Woman Haters (1934), the first of a series of 190 Three Stooges comedy short films. He collaborated with his son on many songs. He charted fourteen times as a songwriter in the U.S. between 1915-1953, including eight in the top 10. His top charted song was " America, I Love You" by Sam Ash, which hit #4 in 1916 (co-written by Edgar Leslie). He charted with his son as co-writer once--"How's About It?" by Phil Harris in 1933 hit #10.