Burgess Meredith: A career of one century

Burgess Meredith is a famous American actor, screenwriter and director. To a wide audience he was remembered for the role of Mickey Goldmil, a boxing trainer from the legendary film "Rocky". He began filming in the far thirties and worked until his death in 1997.

Captain of the Air Force

Oliver Burgess Meredith was born at the beginning of the century, in 1907 in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from high school, he studied at Amherst College. In 1933 he was accepted into the cast of the company. Meredith debuted in the production of "Romeo and Juliet", and then played in the play "Winter on the Threshold." Later on this play a film was shot, in which Burgess Meredith played one of the main roles.

During the war, he served in the US Air Force, having risen to the rank of captain. However, in 1944 he left the army temporarily to take part in the shooting of the film "Private Joe's Story." Burgess Meredith plays the role of the famous military reporter Ernie Pyle.

After the end of the war, the retired captain of the Air Force tries his hand at the director and producer. His debut in this field is the movie "Diary of a Maid", based on the novel of the same name.

Here he also performs one of the roles. Together with him, Pollet Godard is removed, which at that time was his wife. "Diary of a maid" was not the only joint film of the couple. A couple of years later, they again appeared together in the film "Our Wedding Way".

Care in the shadow and triumphant return

In the fifties, Burgess Meredith, whose films gained increasing popularity, was the victim of the activity of the infamous senator McCarthy. He falls under the sights of the Commission on Anti-American Activities and is included in the so-called black list of Hollywood celebrities. This closes all the doors to him, so for several years the director and actor are sitting without work.

After the end of the witch hunt, Burgess Meredith returns to active creative activity. He participates in theatrical productions on Broadway and is removed a lot. Meredith became really popular after the role of Penguin in the TV series "Batman".

A bright, characteristic actor, who has a memorable appearance and a specific squeaky voice, could play any character. So the Penguin in his performance was so memorable that the producers of the series tried to use every opportunity to introduce the hero Meredith into the plot of the next episode.

Rocky and Mickey

Despite all past merits, the actor got the most star role in forty years from the beginning of his career. In the cult film "Rocky" Burgess Meredith tried on himself the image of the coach of the main character Mickey Goldmill. According to many fans of the film, the old actor completely outplayed Sylvester Stallone and looked the best.

The tape was a resounding success, and Burgess Meredith was regularly invited to participate in the continuations of the film until 1990. After filming in "Rocky", he was nominated for an Oscar for the role of the second plan. A year earlier, Burgess Meredith was also nominated for this award for his participation in the film "Locust Day".

However, the experienced actor did not remain completely without rewards. In 1977, he still received an Emmy for a supporting role in a television film about Senator McCarthy. You can also note the role of Mr. Hennessy in the thriller "Dirty Game" (1978).

Last years

In the eighties the actor works on television, being the host of the show "These funny animals". In 1994, the elderly Burgess Meredith published an autobiographical book "So far so good", in which he made a series of frank confessions about his illness, which made him subject to sudden changes in mood, which caused so many problems to his relatives.

Representatives of the younger generation of the nineties loved the veteran for the role of Grandfather Gustafson in the dramatic comedy "Old grumblers." The film was a success, so soon came out the second part of the story "Old grumblers raged 2", which also involved an experienced actor.

In 1997, the long career of the legendary filmmaker was interrupted. He died after a long illness of Alzheimer's and melanoma. After the short speech of his longtime friend Adam West, the body of the old actor was cremated.

The merits of Burgess Meredith were duly recognized by the National Academy of Motion Picture Arts: a famous star appeared on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, dedicated to the legendary actor and director.