Donald Meek
Acting
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
Acting123
movieGoing Hollywood: The '30s
1984
(archive footage)
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
1976
Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)
movieMagic Town
1947
Mr. Twiddle
movieThe Fabulous Joe
1947
Henry Cadwallader, Lawyer
movieAffairs of Geraldine
1946
Casper Millhouse
movieJanie Gets Married
1946
Harley P. Stowers
movieColonel Effingham's Raid
1946
Doc Buden
movieBecause of Him
1946
Martin
movieState Fair
1945
Hippenstahl
movieThe Thin Man Goes Home
1944
Willie Crump
movieBarbary Coast Gent
1944
Bradford Bellamy I
movieMaisie Goes to Reno
1944
Parsons
movieBathing Beauty
1944
Chester Klazenfrantz
movieTwo Girls and a Sailor
1944
Mr. Nizby
movieRationing
1944
Wilfred Ball
movieLost Angel
1943
Professor Catty
movieDu Barry Was a Lady
1943
Mr. Jones / Duc de Choiseul
movieAir Raid Wardens
1943
Eustace Middling
movieKeeper of the Flame
1943
Mr Arbuthnot
movieThey Got Me Covered
1943
Little Old Man
movieSeven Sweethearts
1942
Reverend Howgan, the Minister
movieThe Omaha Trail
1942
Engineer Jonah McCleod
movieMaisie Gets Her Man
1942
Mr. Stickwell
movieTortilla Flat
1942
Paul D. Cummings
movieBabes on Broadway
1941
Mr. Stone
movieRise and Shine
1941
Professor Philip Murray
movieThe Feminine Touch
1941
Captain Makepeace Liveright
movieA Woman's Face
1941
Herman Rundvik
movieBarnacle Bill
1941
"Pop" Cavendish
movieBlonde Inspiration
1941
'Dusty' King
movieCome Live with Me
1941
Joe Darsie
movieThe Wild Man of Borneo
1941
Professor Charles W. Birdo
movieHullabaloo
1940
Mr. Clyde Perkins
movieThird Finger, Left Hand
1940
Mr. Flandrin
movieSky Murder
1940
Bartholomew
moviePhantom Raiders
1940
Bartholomew
movieTurnabout
1940
Henry, the Valet
movieStar Dust
1940
Sam Wellman
movieThe Ghost Comes Home
1940
Mortimer Hopkins, Sr.
movieDr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet
1940
Mittelmeyer
movieThe Man from Dakota
1940
Mr. Vestry
movieMy Little Chickadee
1940
Amos Budge
Oh, Johnny, How You Can Love!
1940
Adelbert Thistlebottom
movieNick Carter, Master Detective
1939
Bartholomew, the bee man
movieThe Housekeeper's Daughter
1939
Editor Wilson
movieHollywood Cavalcade
1939
Lyle P. Stout
movieBlondie Takes a Vacation
1939
Jonathan N. Gillis
movieYoung Mr. Lincoln
1939
Prosecutor John Felder
movieStagecoach
1939
Samuel Peacock
movieJesse James
1939
McCoy
movieHold That Co-ed
1938
Dean Thatcher
movieLittle Miss Broadway
1938
Willoughby Wendling
movieHaving Wonderful Time
1938
P.U. Rogers
movieGoodbye Broadway
1938
Iradius P. Oglethorpe
movieThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer
1938
Sunday School Superintendent
movieDouble Danger
1938
Gordon Ainsley, aka Henry Robinson
movieYou're a Sweetheart
1937
Conway Jeeters
movieBreakfast for Two
1937
Justice of the Peace
movieDouble Wedding
1937
Judge Blynn (uncredited)
movieMake a Wish
1937
Joseph
movieArtists & Models
1937
Dr. Zimmer
movieThe Toast of New York
1937
Daniel Drew
Three Legionnaires
1937
Uriah S. Grant
movieParnell
1937
Nicholas Daniel Murphy
movieMaid of Salem
1937
Ezra Cheeves
moviePennies from Heaven
1936
Gramp Smith
movieLove on the Run
1936
Caretaker
movieTwo in a Crowd
1936
Bennett
movieOld Hutch
1936
Mr. Gunnison
movieThree Married Men
1936
Mr. Frisbee
movieAnd So They Were Married
1936
Hotel Manager
movieCaptain Blood
1935
Dr. Whacker
movieThe Bride Comes Home
1935
The Judge
movieKind Lady
1935
Mr. Foster
moviePeter Ibbetson
1935
Mr. Slade
movieHappiness C.O.D.
1935
Thomas Sherridan
movieBarbary Coast
1935
Sawbuck McTavish
movieShe Couldn't Take It
1935
Uncle Wyndersham
movieThe Return Of Peter Grimm
1935
Mayor Everett Bartholomew
movieChina Seas
1935
Chess Player (uncredited)
movieOld Man Rhythm
1935
Paul Parker
movieVillage Tale
1935
Charlie
movieThe Informer
1935
Peter Mulligan
movieMark of the Vampire
1935
Dr. Doskil
movieThe Gilded Lily
1935
Hankerson
movieSociety Doctor
1935
Moxley
movieBiography of a Bachelor Girl
1935
Mr. Irish, Moose Village General Store
movieRomance in Manhattan
1934
Minister
movieThe Captain Hates the Sea
1934
Josephus Bushmills
movieWhat Every Woman Knows
1934
Snibby the Jeweler (uncredited)
movieMurder at the Vanities
1934
Dr. Saunders
movieThe Last Gentleman
1934
Judd Barr, Cabot's son
movieBedside
1934
Dr. George Wiley
movieHi, Nellie!
1934
Durkin
movieCollege Coach
1933
Spencer Trask
movieLove, Honor and Oh, Baby!
1933
Luther Bowen
movieThe Trans-Atlantic Mystery
1932
Dr. Crabtree - Criminologist
The Crane Poison Case
1932
Dr. Amos Crabtree
The Side Show Mystery
1932
Dr. Amos Crabtree
movieMurder in the Pullman
1932
Dr. Amos Crabtree
The Cole Case
1932
Dr. Crabtree
movieThe Skull Murder Mystery
1932
Dr. Crabtree
movieWayward
1932
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
movieThe Studio Murder Mystery
1932
Dr. Crabtree
movieThe Symphony Murder Mystery
1932
Dr. Crabtree
movieThe Week End Mystery
1931
Dr. Amos Crabtree
movieThe Wall Street Mystery
1931
Doctor Crabtree
The Clyde Mystery
1931
Dr. Amos Crabtree
moviePersonal Maid
1931
Pa Ryan
movieThe Girl Habit
1931
Jonesy
movieSix Cylinder Love
1923
Richard Burton