Actor. His acting career began when he was hired for Henrietta Crossman's touring company when it played in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1900, he made his first Broadway appearance, breaking through to stardom eight years later in "The College Widow." During this time, he married his leading lady, Broadway actress Francis Ring. His first film was "Dandy Donovan, the Gentleman Cracksman," made in London in 1914, and this led to a long-term contract with the Hollywood company which would later become Paramount Pictures. With strong leading roles in Cecil B. DeMille's "Male and Female" and "Why Change Your Wife?" (both filmed in 1919), Meighan became a popular Hollywood star. When sound came to motion pictures, the 50-year-old Meighan sensed that his popularity might wane, and vowed to leave films before his public tired of him. Nonetheless, he was coaxed back in front of the cameras for major character roles in the films "Skyline" (1931), "Peck's Bad Boy" (1932), "The Lone Wolf" (1932), and "Cheaters at Play" (1932). He died from pneumonia at the age of 57.
Actor. His acting career began when he was hired for Henrietta Crossman's touring company when it played in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1900, he made his first Broadway appearance, breaking through to stardom eight years later in "The College Widow." During this time, he married his leading lady, Broadway actress Francis Ring. His first film was "Dandy Donovan, the Gentleman Cracksman," made in London in 1914, and this led to a long-term contract with the Hollywood company which would later become Paramount Pictures. With strong leading roles in Cecil B. DeMille's "Male and Female" and "Why Change Your Wife?" (both filmed in 1919), Meighan became a popular Hollywood star. When sound came to motion pictures, the 50-year-old Meighan sensed that his popularity might wane, and vowed to leave films before his public tired of him. Nonetheless, he was coaxed back in front of the cameras for major character roles in the films "Skyline" (1931), "Peck's Bad Boy" (1932), "The Lone Wolf" (1932), and "Cheaters at Play" (1932). He died from pneumonia at the age of 57.
Bio by: JCFHS'38
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