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Ralph Meeker

 
Actor: Ralph Meeker
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Actors
  • Born: Nov 21, 1920 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Died: Aug 05, 1988 in Woodland Hills, California
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: '50s-'70s
  • Major Genres: Drama, Crime
  • Career Highlights: Kiss Me Deadly, The Naked Spur, The Night Stalker
  • First Major Screen Credit: Die Vier im Jeep (1951)

Biography

Northwestern University grad Ralph Meeker reached Broadway just when the "Method" school of acting was taking hold. His first role of note was Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee Williams' Streetcar Named Desire; Meeker took over the role from Marlon Brando, and there were those who felt that he was closer to Williams' concept of Stanley than the mighty Brando. Meeker went on to star in the Pulitzer Prize-winning William Inge play Picnic, though when time came to film the play, he was passed over in favor of the more bankable William Holden. As for his own film career, Meeker often had to settle for indifferent leading-man and villain assignments; his best screen showings included the role of Mike Hammer in 1955's Kiss Me Deadly and his harrowing portrayal of a condemned army private in Kubrick's Paths of Glory (1957). He remained active onscreen until the early 1980s, and in 1978 both starred in and co-produced the feature film My Boys are Good Boys. In 1959, Ralph Meeker starred as army investigator Steve Dekker in the syndicated TV series Not For Hire. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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Wikipedia: Ralph Meeker
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Ralph Meeker

in Ada (1961)
Born Ralph Rathgeber
November 21, 1920(1920-11-21)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Died August 5, 1988 (aged 67)
Woodland Hills, California, United States
Occupation actor

Ralph Meeker (21 November 1920 – 5 August 1988) was a stage and film actor best-known for starring in the 1953 Broadway production of Picnic,[1] and in the 1955 film noir cult classic Kiss Me Deadly.

He was born Ralph Rathgeber in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the son of Ralph and Magnhild Senovia Haavig Meeker Rathgeber.[2]

Contents

Career

He made his film debut in 1951 with a small role in MGM's Teresa, followed by a starring role in the Swiss-made Four in a Jeep, directed by Leopold Lindtberg.

For his performance in William Inge's Picnic, Meeker was awarded the New York Critic's Circle Award in 1954. Picnic became a classic film in 1956, with William Holden and Kim Novak starring in the roles originated by Meeker and Janice Rule.

Meeker starred as private detective Mike Hammer in the 1955 Robert Aldrich film of Mickey Spillane's Kiss Me Deadly. Many years later, this film acquired cult status and was seen as an influence on French New Wave directors such as Jean-Luc Godard.[3] Meeker's portrayal of Hammer came to be lauded as one of the definitive "tough guy" performances. At the time, however, Meeker was unable to parlay the role into further starring film roles.

In 1957, he did co-star in Stanley Kubrick's Paths of Glory, playing one of the condemned soldiers. Later films included 1961's Ada with Dean Martin and the 1967 drama The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, in which he played gangster George "Bugs" Moran. He also appeared in 1967's hit The Dirty Dozen as Captain Kinder, a military psychologist who attempts to analyze the men.

On television, Meeker starred in the 1958 episode "A Man Called Horse" of NBC's Wagon Train, with the Hopi Indian boy Anthony Numkena appearing in the role of Little Hunter. In 1963, he appeared in "The Bull Roarer" on ABC's medical drama about psychiatry, Breaking Point starring Paul Richards. He guest-starred in the 1964 episode "Swing for the Moon" of ABC's Channing, set on a fictitious college campus and costarring Jason Evers and Henry Jones.

In 1967, he starred on ABC's military-western Custer, with Wayne Maunder in the title role. Meeker portrayed police officers in 1969's The Detective with Frank Sinatra and The Anderson Tapes (1970) with Sean Connery.

He was producer of the movie My Boys Are Good Boys (1978) and made guest appearances on numerous TV shows, including Ironside, CHiPs, Toast of the Town, The Outer Limits and Studio One. In 1955, Meeker starred in the premiere episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, "Revenge", with Vera Miies, as well as in three other episodes of the Hitchcock series.

Personal life

He was a graduate of the Leelanau School in Glen Arbor Township, Michigan, and a member of their Hall of Fame. Meeker married twice. His first wife was actress Salome Jens. The marriage lasted from 1964 to 1966. His second marriage was to Colleen Meeker. Major success continually eluded him. He died of a heart attack on August 5, 1988, in Woodland Hills, California.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b Rothstein, Mervyn (1988-08-06). "Ralph Meeker, 67, Star of 'Picnic' And Featured Actor in Films, Dies". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE5DE1331F935A3575BC0A96E948260. Retrieved 2008-11-06. 
  2. ^ a b Stalnaker, Jack (2004). "Ralph Meeker: Biography". The Meeker Museum. http://www.meekermuseum.com/biograph.html. Retrieved 2008-11-06. 
  3. ^ Hoberman, J., Review of Kiss Me Deadly in The Village Voice Film Guide, New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2007.

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Actor. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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