American director, screenwriter, and producer, four-time Academy Award winner.

Full name — Francesco Rosario Capra.

Frank Capra graduated from the California Institute of Technology (then called Throop Institute) with a degree in chemical engineering, served in the army, and was discharged due to illness.

From 1926 he was a director of silent comedy shorts in collaboration with screenwriter Robert Riskin. In 1933 he began filming "It Happened One Night," which brought him fame and his first Oscar. In total the film received five Oscars, in all the leading categories. Stars such as Barbara Stanwyck, Gary Cooper, and Cary Grant appeared in Capra's films. In 1937 Capra directed the fantasy tale "Lost Horizon." During World War II Capra worked on US propaganda, releasing eight documentary war films. In 1944 he returned to comedy, directing "Arsenic and Old Lace" with Cary Grant. In 1946 he directed his most famous film, "It's a Wonderful Life." This film is watched by all of America on Christmas Eve. In 2004 the BBC channel placed it second on its list of the best films that did not receive an Oscar.