Donald Meek
Thomas Donald Meek (14 July 1878 – 18 November 1946) was a Scottish-American actor. He first performed publicly at the age of eight and began appearing on Broadway in 1903. Meek is perhaps best known for his roles in the films You Can't Take It with You (1938) and Stagecoach (1939). He posthumously received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. Meek was born in Glasgow to Matthew and Annie Meek. In the 1890s, the Meek family emigrated to Canada and then to the United States. By 1900, they were living in Philadelphia where Meek was employed as a dry goods salesman, according to the United States census of that year with Meek later working on stage. After years on the stage, Meek became a film actor, appearing memorably in several movies including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Little Miss Broadway, and State Fair. Before becoming an actor, he fought in the Spanish–American War in the United States Army and contracted yellow fever which caused him to lose his hair. He was cast as timid, worried characters in many of his films, and is perhaps best known for his roles as Mr. Poppins in Frank Capra's You Can't Take It With You and as whiskey salesman Samuel Peacock in John Ford's Stagecoach. From 1931 through 1932, Meek was featured as criminologist Dr. Crabtree in a series of 12 Warner Brothers two-reel short subjects written by S.S. Van Dine. Meek and Isabella "Belle" Walken married in Boston in a Methodist church on January 3, 1909. By this marriage, the American-born Belle Meek lost her United States citizenship by taking her husband's British nationality. Donald Meek died of leukaemia on 18 November 1946 in Los Angeles, while filming the role of Mr. Twiddle in Magic Town. A prolific film actor in over 100 Hollywood movies during its Golden Age, he received a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was entombed in the Fairmount Mausoleum at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.
Known for
ActingBirthday
July 13, 1878Deathday
November 18, 1946Gender
MaleKnown Movie Credits
119Place of birth
Glasgow, Scotland, UKAlso known as
Thomas Donald MeekCast credits
Stagecoach
Samuel PeacockBlondie Takes a Vacation
Jonathan N. GillisThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Sunday School SuperintendentKeeper of the Flame
Mr ArbuthnotCome Live with Me
Joe DarsieYou Can't Take It with You
Mr. PoppinsA Woman's Face
Herman RundvikState Fair
HippenstahlMark of the Vampire
Dr. DoskilMy Little Chickadee
Amos BudgeThe Thin Man Goes Home
Willie CrumpDu Barry was a Lady
Mr. Jones / Duc de ChoiseulBathing Beauty
Chester KlazenfrantzAir Raid Wardens
Eustace MiddlingThe Return of Frank James
McCoyJesse James
McCoyYoung Mr. Lincoln
Prosecutor John FelderCaptain Blood
Dr. WhackerHaving Wonderful Time
P.U. RogersThe Gilded Lily
HankersonPhantom Raiders
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