Burgess Meredith's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Batman The Penguin National Geographic Specials Narrator (2) Laredo Grubby Sully Gloria Dr. Willard… Search Cameron Puff and the Incredible Mr. Nobody Puff Those Amazing Animals Regular The Billy Rose Show Billy Rose …

Main Movie Roles 2006 - Rocky Balboa 1995 - Grumpier Old Men 1994 - Camp Nowhere 1993 - Grumpy Old Men 1990 - Rocky V 1990 - State of Grace 1988 - Hot to Trot 1988 - Full Moon in Blue Water 1985 - Santa Claus: The Movie 1983 - Twilight Zone: The Movie 1982 - Rocky III 1981 - Clash of the Titans 1981 - The Last Chase 1981 - True Confessions 1980 - When Time Ran Out... 1979 - Rocky II 1978 - The Manitou 1978 - Magic 1978 - Foul Play 1977 - The Sentinel 1976 - Burnt Offerings 1976 - Rocky 1975 - The Hindenburg 1975 - 92 in the Shade 1975 - The Day of the Locust 1972 - Beware! The Blob 1970 - There Was a Crooked Man... 1969 - The Reivers 1969 - Mackenna's Gold 1968 - Skidoo 1966 - Batman: The Movie 1966 - Madame X 1965 - In Harm's Way 1963 - The Cardinal 1962 - Advise & Consent 1949 - The Man on the Eiffel Tower 1949 - Jigsaw 1946 - The Diary of a Chambermaid 1945 - A Walk in the Sun 1942 - Street of Chance 1941 - Tom Dick and Harry 1941 - That Uncertain Feeling 1940 - Castle on the Hudson 1940 - Second Chorus 1935 - The Scoundrel 1932 - Freaks

BIOGRAPHY:

One of the truly great and gifted performers of the century who often suffered lesser roles, Meredith was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1907 and educated in Amherst College in Massachusetts before joining Eva Le Gallienne's stage company in New York City in 1933. He bcame a favorite of dramatist Maxwell Anderson (I), premiering on film in the playwright's Winterset (1936). Served in the Air Force in WWII. He continued in a variety of dramatic and comedic roles until being named an unfriendly witness by the House Un-American Activities Committee in the early 1950s, whereupon studio work disappeared. His career picked up again, especially with television roles, in the 1960s, although younger audiences know him best for either the Rocky (1976) or Grumpy Old Men (1993) films. Meredith also did a large amount of commercial work, serving as the voice for Skippy Peanut Butter and United Air Lines, among others. He was also an ardent environmentalist who believed pollution one of the greatest tragedies of the time, and an opponent of the Vietnam War.


TRIVIA:

• Because of his very liberal political views, he collided with Senator 'Joseph McCarthy (II)' (qv) and was blacklisted from films in the late 1950s. Meredith, one might say, got revenge on McCarthy by portraying Joseph Welch, the man who humiliated McCarthy on national television, in _'Tail Gunner Joe (1977) (TV)_'.
• Was the second choice for the Penguin role in _"Batman" (1966)_ (qv) . Producers had originally wanted 'Spencer Tracy' (qv) in the role, but Tracy wouldn't sign unless his character was allowed to kill Batman. Obviously, they did not want to kill the main character, so the role went to Meredith.
• He was fascinated by the subject of non-human intelligence, particularly dolphins. He once believed that a dolphin somehow called to him for help in the middle of the night while he was staying at a friend's home on the beach. He ran out and found the dolphin, caught in a net under a dock down the beach, although there was no way he should have been able to know it was there. He released it, saving its life. He believed it had made some sort of connection with him, perhaps telepathic, to call for help.
• Served in the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II, reaching the rank of Captain.
• Despite his character dying in _Rocky III (1982)_ (qv), he has appeared in every Rocky film, as either the real character, a flashback, or through archive footage.
• Was only seventeen years older then 'Jack Lemmon (I)' (qv) when he played his father in _Grumpy Old Men (1993)_ (qv).
• Was offered the part of The Penguin's father in _Batman Returns (1992)_ (qv) (which eventually went to 'Paul Reubens' (qv)), but couldn't film it because of his delicate health.
• In 1960, received a special Tony Award, along with 'James Thurber' (qv), for A Thurber Carnival. He was also nominated for a 1974 Tony Award as best director (dramatic) for Ulysses in Nighttown.