Donald Meek Photo

Donald Meek

Acting

1.0 Popularity Jul 13, 1878 (68 years old) Glasgow, Scotland, UK

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 posthumousl...

Biography

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.

Filmography 120

1984
Going Hollywood: The '30s Movie

as (archive footage)

1947
Magic Town Movie

as Mr. Twiddle

1947
The Fabulous Joe Movie

as Henry Cadwallader, Lawyer

1946
Affairs of Geraldine Movie

as Casper Millhouse

1946
Janie Gets Married Movie

as Harley P. Stowers

1946
Colonel Effingham's Raid Movie

as Doc Buden

1946
Because of Him Movie

as Martin

1945
State Fair Movie

as Hippenstahl

1944
The Thin Man Goes Home Movie

as Willie Crump

1944
Barbary Coast Gent Movie

as Bradford Bellamy I

1944
Maisie Goes to Reno Movie

as Parsons

1944
Bathing Beauty Movie

as Chester Klazenfrantz

1944
Two Girls and a Sailor Movie

as Mr. Nizby

1944
Rationing Movie

as Wilfred Ball

1943
Lost Angel Movie

as Professor Catty

1943
Du Barry Was a Lady Movie

as Mr. Jones / Duc de Choiseul

1943
Air Raid Wardens Movie

as Eustace Middling

1943
Keeper of the Flame Movie

as Mr Arbuthnot

1943
They Got Me Covered Movie

as Little Old Man

1942
Seven Sweethearts Movie

as Reverend Howgan, the Minister

Photos 3

Donald Meek Photo
Donald Meek Photo
Donald Meek Photo

Personal Details

Known For Acting
Gender Male
Birthday July 13, 1878 (68 years old)
Died November 18, 1946
Place of Birth Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Also Known As Thomas Donald Meek
Years Active 1923 - 1984
Popularity 1.0
Career Stats
120 Total Credits
120 Movie Roles
3 Photos