born in kankakee, illinois on december 17, 1923, erickson began his career at paramount pictures in 1944, ultimately working his way up to production manager. among the productions he managed during his time at paramount were all five of the films that director alfred hitchcock made for the studio in the 1950s: "rear window" (1954), "to catch a thief" (1955), "the trouble with harry" (1955), "the man who knew too much" (1956) and "vertigo" (1958).