- He and wife Helen Hayes were close friends with Norma Shearer and her husband, MGM production chief Irving Thalberg. When news of Thalberg's sudden death was announced in September of 1936, Hayes sought out her husband to tell him the tragic news, only to find him alone outside playing tennis on the same court where he and Thalberg had shared many a match. According to Hayes he didn't come inside until many hours later and then broke down sobbing.
- Established with wife Helen Hayes, the Mary MacArthur Fund with The March of Dimes to assist children who are dying of polio, named after their daughter, Mary, who died of the disease in 1949.
- Had an affair with fellow writer Dorothy Parker.
- Is portrayed by Matthew Broderick in Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)
- Adoptive father, with Helen Hayes, of actor James MacArthur.
- Assistant to the chief of the Chemical Warfare Service in Washington D.C. during World War II.
- His brother, John D. MacArthur, was an insurance-company owner and executive, and founded the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
- Co author with Ben Hecht of The Front Page Story, On the first night Helen Hayes was in the balcony while the authors sat outside on the fire escape. At the end of the show she told them it was a hit and Charles proposed to her and they were together until his death.
- Son James MacArthur with writer Charles MacArthur,.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content