Reginald Cheyne Berkeley (1890–1935) was a British politician, lawyer, and writer whose career spanned public service and creative writing across the United Kingdom and the United States. Initially trained in the legal profession, Berkeley entered British politics as a Liberal Party politician, serving as a Member of Parliament. His political background and legal training provided a diverse foundation for his subsequent transition into a prolific writing career during the interwar period.
As a writer, Berkeley initially found success crafting plays for both the stage and the emerging medium of radio. His dramatic works eventually paved the way for a career in the film industry, leading him to relocate to the United States. In Hollywood, he worked as a screenwriter, contributing to the rapidly growing cinematic landscape of the 1930s.
Berkeley's life and career were cut short in 1935 when he contracted pneumonia following an operation in Los Angeles, California, where he was working. He left behind a legacy of versatile storytelling across multiple mediums, transitioning seamlessly from the halls of Parliament to the studios of Hollywood. His son, Humphry Berkeley, would later follow in his political footsteps, serving as a Conservative Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom.
