In 1890, at the German Lutheran Church on New York's Houston Street, he was christened not "Edward Arnold" but Guenther Edward Schneider. Six years later he made his first trip to the theatre-Tony Pastor's on 14th street. His autobiography, Lorenzo Goes to Hollywood, revealed that that he made so much noise on this visit that "...I was ... soundly spanked by my uncle and told to keep quiet if I ever wanted to come to the theatre again." By adulthood, he'd developed a rich, vibrant, baritone voice-perfect for stage and, later, talking pictures. His voice, appearance, and commanding presence put him in great demand for character roles in Hollywood, where he arrived in 1932. 1935 marked two "firsts" for Eddie: Universal's Diamond Jim, his first in a major film starring role, and his election to the Guild's Board of Directors. Two months into his second term as Guild President, the unthinkable occurred - Pearl Harbor was attacked and the United States entered World War II. After his presidency, he continued to serve on the Board-until his death in 1956.