Burgess Meredith, a remarkably talented and accomplished performer of the 20th century, was born in 1907 in Cleveland, Ohio. He received his education at Amherst College in Massachusetts before joining Eva Le Gallienne's Student Repertory stage company in 1929. By 1934, he had already become a star on Broadway, earning a Best Performer of the Year award for his role in 'Little 'Ol Boy', which he shared with the legendary George M. Cohan.
Meredith's impressive career continued to flourish, with him becoming a favorite of renowned dramatist Maxwell Anderson. He made his film debut in Anderson's Winterset (1936) and went on to appear in numerous Broadway productions, including 'The Barretts of Wimpole Street', 'The Remarkable Mr Pennypacker', 'Candida', and 'Of Mice and Men'.
During World War II, Meredith served in the United States Army Air Corps, rising to the rank of captain. After the war, he continued to excel in a wide range of dramatic and comedic roles, often reprising his stage performances on film. However, his career suffered a setback in the early 1950s when he was named an unfriendly witness by the House Un-American Activities Committee, leading to a decline in studio work.
Meredith's career experienced a resurgence in the 1960s, particularly with his numerous television roles. Although he may be best known to younger audiences for his appearances in the Rocky (1976) and Grumpy Old Men (1993) films, he also made a significant impact through his extensive commercial work, serving as the voice for Skippy Peanut Butter and United Air Lines, among others.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Meredith was a dedicated environmentalist who believed that pollution was one of the greatest tragedies of his time. He was also a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War. Burgess Meredith passed away at the age of 89 in his home in Malibu, California on September 9, 1997, due to complications from Alzheimer's disease and melanoma.
