Charles Lederer was born in New York City, the son of two then-prominent figures in the American theater--producer George Lederer and singer Reine Davies. After his parents were separated in 1912, Lederer and his sister, Pepi, were raised by his mother's sister, actress Marion Davies, the protégée of William Randolph Hearst. Lederer detested his dependence on Hearst's support of the family and separated himself from Hearst's patronage as he grew older. His relationship with Hearst affected his later work: his screenplays frequently delve into the corrosive influences of wealth and power.

After graduating from the University of California, Lederer began a career in journalism. When he was nineteen, he became friends with Ben Hecht, who introduced him to the New York literati, especially the members of the Round Table group that met at the Algonquin Hotel. The friendship with Hecht led to Lederer's being hired...