Noted for his distinctive raspy voice, this veteran star of stage and screen was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1908. Oliver Burgess Meredith was educated at Amherst College before joining Eva LaGallienne’s Student Repertory Group in New York City in 1933. In 1936, he made his Broadway premiere in Maxwell Anderson’s “Winterset”. Some memorable performances followed, notably “Of Mice and Men” and “Idiot’s Delight” (both 1939), “Second Chorus” (1940), “The Story Of GI Joe” (1945) and “Mine Own Executioner” (1947).
Meredith was not the typical leading man; he wasn’t tall and handsome, but he made up for this with the intensity and sincerity of his performances. He served in the Airforce during World War II, earning the rank of Captain. He maintained a steady career in dramatic and comedic roles until the early 1950s, when his liberal views collided with maniac, Senator Joe McCarthy, and he was blacklisted from films.
Through the help of director Otto Preminger, his career in film was restored and many television roles sustained him throughout the 1960s. He is perhaps best remembered for his role as the trainer in “Rocky” (1976) and “Grumpy Old Men” (1993). He also did many television commercials, serving as the voice for Skippy Peanut Butter and United Airlines, to name a few.
He was married four times and was the father of two children. An ardent environmentalist, he was staunchly opposed to the war in Vietnam and was fascinated by the intelligence of dolphins. Once while staying at the beach house of a friend, he felt one cry out to him, and when he found the creature trapped in some netting under a dock, he became convinced that there existed some powerful telepathic connection.
He died of Alzheimer’s Disease on September 9, 1997, leaving an extensive film legacy.
What are some of YOUR favorite Burgess Meredith films?