Burgess Meredith is a talented person who has achieved a lot in life, the Hollywood film industry. A wonderful actor who managed to captivate the audience with a smile, voice, became an excellent screenwriter and producer. Russian viewers will remember the role of a coach in the blockbuster "Rocky".
Oliver Burgess Meredith is a famous American actor who mastered the profession of producer and director. He has many high awards in various nominations. He went through the alienation strip, was in disgrace for several years. But he managed to maintain faith in cinema, continued to write scripts and star in films.
Biography
The future screen star was born on November 16, 1907 in a dysfunctional family. My father drank a lot, practically did not help the family. The whole household, the upbringing of the boy and two brothers was completely on the mother. However, the little boy was hardworking and purposeful, always achieving his goals. He attended Cleveland, Ohio High School, then graduated from Amherst College with a theater bias. During his studies, he joined the Eva Le Gallienne, the New York troupe of aspiring theater and stage actors.
Career
The first steps towards popularity began for the young man in 1933, when he was accepted into the theater troupe. The very first role that I had to master was in the play by William Shakespeare "Romeo and Juliet". Then there was the production of "Winter on the Doors", the plot of which was filmed with the participation of Meredith in the title role.
In his career, he served in the American Armed Forces (US Air Force), where he was called up as a compulsory lieutenant. He had to go through the military events of those years, but he did not interrupt the shooting, continued to work hard.
1944 was marked for him by leaving the army, participating in the film "The Stories of Private Joe." In it, he played the war reporter Ernie Pyle, which was a major contribution to Burgess's collection of roles. At the end of the war, he decided to take up directing, staging pictures, selecting heroes according to his vision of films. The main and important was the production of "The Maid's Diary", where he played a small role with his future wife. The film was noted by critics and given encouraging forecasts.
The fifties brought confusion, removing him from active work, leaving him in the shadows. Despite the fact that his films were popular, Oliver was forced to sit out of work for several years, he was allowed to go to the cinema everywhere. This was the period of the reign of Senator McCarthy, who created a commission for anti-American activities, she identified objectionable people at that time. But Meredith did not give up, found the strength to withstand adversity.
After just a couple of years, Burgess performs on Broadway in various theatrical productions, starts acting again in films, and staging his own films. The role of the Penguin in the film "Batman" helped him regain his popularity and recognition. His unique voice with a hoarseness, charm, charm, the ability to charm anyone helped to return the former glory, the demand for screenwriters.
At the end of his career for several years, the actor starred in the most sensational film in the world "Rocky". He played coach Mickey Goldmill for boxer Rocky Balboa (Stallone). His performance stunned the audience, instantly making him an idol, the most beloved artist in the tape. In the future, he was constantly invited to all the sequels of the blockbuster about the boxer Rocky Balboa, even to episodic scenes.
The generation of the nineties remembered him for the role of the old grumbler Gustafson, whom he played in the dramatic comedy "Old Grumblers" with a sequel.
On account of the film actor, director, screenwriter and producer, a large number of films, television productions, television programs, documentaries. He published the book "So far so good", an autobiographical memoir of his life from birth to the last years. It contains many references to all the roles he played, a story about his serious illness, the difficulties he had to go through, the problems of his family and relatives.
Personal life
Oliver lived a long and happy life, went through the war, rising to the rank of captain in the US Air Force. He was married four times and every time he thought he had found love. The first marriage lasted four years (1932-1935), his wife Helen Derby did not have time to give him their first child, they parted as friends. The second union - two years (1936-1937), his wife, the beginning model Margaret Perry, did not want to be married to a military man.
It took six years before Meredith was legally married again. His chosen one was the beautiful Paulette Goddard, an American screen star. He starred with her in two films, which were awarded different nominations. Their marriage was for love, lasted from 1944 to 1949, but the couple broke up. Subsequently, she became the wife of Erich Maria Remarque, but continued to communicate with Oliver and star in films with him.
In 1949, immediately after parting with Paulette, he married Kaya Sundsten and lived until the last days of his life. The fourth wife gave him two wonderful children (son and daughter), who adored their parents and always supported them. It was a close-knit family.
The collection of the eminent actor has a large number of awards, prizes and other awards. Over the years of fruitful work, he was awarded the following victories and nominations:
- NBR Prize - Laureate, Best Actor in 1962;
- Prize "Prime-Time Emmy" - twice awarded for outstanding supporting roles in comedy productions (1977-1978);
- Saturn Award - nominated three times for Best Supporting Actor in Guardian (1978), Magic (1979) and Clash of the Titans (1982);
- Golden Globe - Best Supporting Actor in Locust Day (1976);
- Oscar - two nominations for Best Actor in a Role (1976-1977);
- Walk of Fame Star - 6904 Hollywood Cinema Merit Star (1987).
In addition, he has awards: "BAFTA Film Award" (1976), "Nominal Ace" (1985) for talent in theatrical or dramatic productions. Also, he is the winner of the Sitges-Catalan International Film Festival (1977) as the best actor in the mystical thriller "Burnt Offering".
A popular actor passed away at the age of 89 in Malibu (California), in his own home, after a prolonged Alzheimer's disease (with complications). His ashes were buried in the local cemetery on September 9, 1997.
