1. Overview
George Meeker (March 5, 1904 - August 19, 1984) was an American actor known for his extensive work as a character actor in both Hollywood films and Broadway theatre productions. A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Meeker appeared in a wide array of films and stage plays throughout his prolific career. He received lasting recognition for his contributions to the film industry with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2. Early Life and Education
George Meeker was born on March 5, 1904, in Brooklyn, New York. His early life led him to pursue a career in the dramatic arts. Meeker honed his acting skills at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts, a renowned conservatory for professional actors.
3. Career
George Meeker had a long and active career, distinguishing himself in both the film industry and on the legitimate stage. He was particularly recognized for his versatility as a character actor, embodying a diverse range of roles throughout his career.
3.1. Film Career
Meeker's filmography is extensive, showcasing his talent across various genres. He appeared in numerous motion pictures, often in supporting roles that contributed significantly to the narrative. Some of his notable film credits include Crime, Inc. (1945) and A Thief in the Dark (1928). He also had an uncredited part in the acclaimed 1941 film All Through the Night. Other films in his extensive career include:
- Four Sons (1928) - Andreas - Her Son
- The Escape (1928) - Dr. Don Elliott
- A Thief in the Dark (1928) - Ernest
- Chicken a La King (1928) - Buck Taylor
- Girl-Shy Cowboy (1928) - Harry Lasser
- Strictly Dishonorable (1931) - Henry
- Emma (1932) - Bill Smith
- Fireman, Save My Child (1932) - Stevens (uncredited)
- A Fool's Advice (1932) - Harry Bayliss
- The Misleading Lady (1932) - Bob Tracy
- The Famous Ferguson Case (1932) - Jigger Bolton
- The First Year (1932) - Dick Loring
- Back Street (1932) - Kurt Shendler
- Blessed Event (1932) - Cromwell Church - the Announcer (uncredited)
- Vanity Street (1932) - Val French
- Afraid to Talk (1932) - Lenny Collins
- The Match King (1932) - Erickson (uncredited)
- Sweepings (1933) - Bert Pardway
- Pick-Up (1933) - Artie Logan (uncredited)
- Night of Terror (1933) - Prof. Arthur Hornsby
- Song of the Eagle (1933) - August Hoffmann
- The Life of Jimmy Dolan (1933) - Charles Magee
- Double Harness (1933) - Dennis Moore
- Chance at Heaven (1933) - Sid Larrick
- Only Yesterday (1933) - Dave Reynolds
- King for a Night (1933) - John Williams
- Hi, Nellie! (1934) - Sheldon
- Dark Hazard (1934) - Pres Barrow
- Hips, Hips, Hooray! (1934) - Beauchamp
- Ever Since Eve (1934) - Philip Baxter
- Melody in Spring (1934) - Wesley Prebble
- Uncertain Lady (1934) - Dr. Alexander Garrison
- I Believed in You (1934) - Saracen Jones
- Little Man, What Now? (1934) - Schultz
- Paris Interlude (1934) - Rex
- The Dragon Murder Case (1934) - Monty Montague
- The Richest Girl in the World (1934) - Donald
- Against the Law (1934) - Bert Andrews
- Broadway Bill (1934) - Henry Early
- Bachelor of Arts (1934) - Prof. Donald Woolsey
- Murder on a Honeymoon (1935) - Tom Kelsey, Alias Roswell T. Forrest
- The Wedding Night (1935) - Gilly (uncredited)
- Oil for the Lamps of China (1935) - Bill Kendall
- Don't Bet on Blondes (1935) - Minor Role (scenes deleted)
- Dante's Inferno (1935) - Drunk at Ship's Cafe (uncredited)
- Welcome Home (1935) - Edward Adams
- Manhattan Butterfly (1935)
- Murder by Television (1935) - Richard Grayson
- The Rainmakers (1935) - Orville Parker
- Remember Last Night? (1935) - Vic Huling
- If You Could Only Cook (1935) - Parker (uncredited)
- Don't Get Personal (1936) - Freddie Miller
- Tango (1936) - Foster Carver, Tony's Brother
- The Country Doctor (1936) - Dr. Wilson
- In Paris, A.W.O.L. (1936) - David
- Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) - Henneberry (uncredited)
- Gentle Julia (1936) - Crum
- Neighborhood House (1936) - Adolph, Theatre Manager
- Walking on Air (1936) - Tom Quinlan
- Wedding Present (1936) - Gordon Blaker
- Career Woman (1936) - Mr. Smith
- Beware of Ladies (1936) - Freddie White
- History Is Made at Night (1937) - Mr. Norton
- The Man Who Found Himself (1937) - Howard Dennis (uncredited)
- On Again-Off Again (1937) - Tony
- Stella Dallas (1937) - Spencer Chandler (uncredited)
- Escape by Night (1937) - Fred Peters
- Music for Madame (1937) - Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
- The Westland Case (1937) - Richard Bolston
- Tarzan's Revenge (1938) - Nevin Potter
- Change of Heart (1938) - Richards (uncredited)
- Reckless Living (1938) - Man at Race Track (uncredited)
- Danger on the Air (1938) - Tuttle
- Having Wonderful Time (1938) - Subway Masher (uncredited)
- Marie Antoinette (1938) - Robespierre
- Smashing the Rackets (1938) - District Attorney Aide (uncredited)
- Slander House (1938) - Dr. Herbert Stallings
- Crime Takes a Holiday (1938) - Chuck (uncredited)
- Long Shot (1939) - Dell Baker
- Wings of the Navy (1939) - Steve Connors (uncredited)
- Rough Riders' Round-up (1939) - George Lanning
- The Lady and the Mob (1939) - George Watson
- The Kid from Texas (1939) - Henry Smith Harrington (uncredited)
- It's a Wonderful World (1939) - Ned Brown (uncredited)
- Undercover Doctor (1939) - Dapper Dan Barr
- The Jones Family in Hollywood (1939) - Movie Studio Actor (uncredited)
- Stunt Pilot (1939) - Earl Martin
- Everything's on Ice (1939) - Harrison Gregg
- The Roaring Twenties (1939) - Masters
- A Child Is Born (1939) - Mr. Harry Laverne (uncredited)
- Nick Carter, Master Detective (1939) - Hartley (uncredited)
- All Women Have Secrets (1939) - Doc
- Gone with the Wind (1939) - Poker-Playing Captain (uncredited)
- Escape to Paradise (1939) - Harry Wilson (uncredited)
- Swanee River (1939) - Henry Foster
- Free, Blonde and 21 (1940) - Drunk (uncredited)
- Sandy Is a Lady (1940) - Mr. Porter, The Writer
- Yesterday's Heroes (1940) - Tony
- A Night at Earl Carroll's (1940) - Stage Manager
- Michael Shayne, Private Detective (1940) - Harry Grange
- High Sierra (1941) - Pfiffer
- The Singing Hill (1941) - John R. Ramsey
- Affectionately Yours (1941) - Anita's Escort (uncredited)
- Love Crazy (1941) - DeWest
- Mountain Moonlight (1941) - Long
- Hurricane Smith (1941) - Joan's Boss (uncredited)
- Dive Bomber (1941) - Tom (uncredited)
- Marry the Boss's Daughter (1941) - Snavely
- The Body Disappears (1941) - (scenes deleted)
- You're in the Army Now (1941) - Captain Austin
- All Through the Night (1942) - Reporter (uncredited)
- Captains of the Clouds (1942) - Playboy
- The Male Animal (1942) - Reporter on Porch (uncredited)
- Murder in the Big House (1942) - 'Scoop' Conner
- Larceny, Inc. (1942) - Mr. Jackson
- Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) - Hotel Clerk #1 (uncredited)
- Spy Ship (1942) - Paul
- Wings for the Eagle (1942) - Personnel Man
- The Gay Sisters (1942) - Dick's Boss (uncredited)
- Secret Enemies (1942) - Rudolph Dietz - Desk clerk
- Busses Roar (1942) - Nick Stoddard
- You Can't Escape Forever (1942) - Cummings - Greer's Lawyer (uncredited)
- Casablanca (1942) - Rick's friend (uncredited)
- The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) - Mr. Swanson (uncredited)
- Son of Dracula (1943) - Party Guest (uncredited)
- Up in Arms (1944) - Ashley's Aide
- Take It Big (1944) - John Hankinson
- Silent Partner (1944) - R.S. Treavor, Desk Clerk
- Seven Doors to Death (1944) - Charles Eaton
- Song of Nevada (1944) - Chris Calahan
- The Port of 40 Thieves (1944) - Frederick St. Clair
- Marriage Is a Private Affair (1944) - Jonesy (uncredited)
- Bowery to Broadway (1944) - Harvey's Man (uncredited)
- I Accuse My Parents (1944) - Charles Blake
- Dead Man's Eyes (1944) - Nick Phillips
- The Big Show-Off (1945) - Wally Porter
- Eadie Was a Lady (1945) - Caleb Van Horn VIII (uncredited)
- Brenda Starr, Reporter (1945, Serial) - Frank Smith (uncredited)
- Docks of New York (1945) - Prince Egor Mallet
- A Guy, a Gal and a Pal (1945) - Granville Breckenridge
- Crime, Inc. (1945) - Barry North
- Blonde Ransom (1945) - Forbes
- Mr. Muggs Rides Again (1945) - Dollar Davis
- Crime Doctor's Warning (1945) - Mrs. Lake's Attorney #1 (uncredited)
- Come Out Fighting (1945) - Silk Henley
- Northwest Trail (1945) - Whitey Yeager
- Black Market Babies (1945) - Anthony Marsden
- The Red Dragon (1945) - Edmond Slade
- Just Before Dawn (1946) - Walter Foster (uncredited)
- Murder Is My Business (1946) - Carl Meldrum
- The People's Choice (1946) - Elmer Blodgett
- Chick Carter, Detective (1946) - Nick Pollo
- Below the Deadline (1946) - Jeffrey Hilton
- Angel on My Shoulder (1946) - Mr. Bentley (uncredited)
- Her Sister's Secret (1946) - Guy
- Home in Oklahoma (1946) - Steve McClory
- Apache Rose (1947) - Reed Calhoun
- Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman (1947) - Wolf, an Attorney (uncredited)
- Road to Rio (1947) - Sherman Mallory
- The Gay Ranchero (1948) - Vance Brados
- King of the Gamblers (1948) - Bernie Dupal
- The Dude Goes West (1948) - Gambler (uncredited)
- Superman (1948, Serial) - Driller
- Silver Trails (1948) - Will Jackson
- One Touch of Venus (1948) - Mr. Crust (uncredited)
- The Denver Kid (1948) - Dealer Andre
- Words and Music (1948) - Producer (uncredited)
- The Crime Doctor's Diary (1949) - Carl Anson (uncredited)
- Omoo-Omoo, the Shark God (1949) - Dr. Godfrey Long
- Sky Liner (1949) - Financier
- Ranger of Cherokee Strip (1949) - Eric Parsons
- The Invisible Monster (1950) - Harry Long
- Twilight in the Sierras (1950) - Matt Brunner
- Spoilers of the Plains (1951) - Scientist Jim
- Wells Fargo Gunmaster (1951) - Roulette Croupier
- Government Agents vs. Phantom Legion (1951) - Willard
- Honeychile (1951) - Gambler (uncredited)
3.2. Broadway Career
Beyond his work in film, George Meeker was also an accomplished stage actor with several notable appearances on Broadway. His Broadway credits include:
- Conflict (1929)
- Back Here (1928)
- Judy (1927)
- A Lady's Virtue (1925)
- Judy Drops In (1924)
4. Legacy and Recognition
George Meeker's contributions to the entertainment industry were formally recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located at 6101 Hollywood Boulevard, within the Motion Pictures section, commemorating his significant career in film.
5. Death
George Meeker passed away on August 19, 1984.