Actor. He is best known for playing the roles of benevolent authoritarian or paternal characters in films. He will be best remembered for his role as 'Dr. Roger Cathaway' in the film, "This Above All" (1942). The romantic film which was directed by Anatole Litvak and based on the novel by Eric Knight and a screenplay by R.C. Sherriff and which also stars Joan Fontaine, Thomas Mitchell, and Tyrone Power, tells the story of Prudence Callaway, who comes from an aristocratic family. The beautiful young lady defies convention by joining the WAAFs and becoming romantically involved with an AWOL soldier. He was born one of five children in Rehutia, Manickpur, India, to railway engineer Walter Merivale (his father's profession meant the family lived in India, Costa Rica, and Barbados, where he was Manager of the Barbados Railway, before settling in Chiswick, West London, England), and his wife Emma Magdalene "Maggie" Pittman Merivale on November 2, 1880. He was educated at St. Edward's School in Oxford, England. A star of the silent film era, he made his mark on the stage before appearing in films. He was active in stage productions from the East End of London, England, to Broadway in New York City, New York, from 1910 to 1944. He appeared at the Coronet Theatre in London, England, in 1905, toured England until 1914, and then moved to the United States. He returned to England and appeared for a time at the Strand Theatre in London, England, before returning to the United States. His many stage plays include, "The Scarlet Pimpernel" (1910), "Pygmalion" (1910), "Pollyanna" (1916), "The Harp Of Life" (1916), "A Young Man's Fancy" (1919), "One Night In Rome" (1919), "The Tragedy Of Nan" (1920), "Call The Doctor" (1920), "The Merchant Of Venice" (1922), "The Swan" (1923, and 1924), "Grounds For Divorce" (1924), "Antonia" (1925), "The Monkey Talks" (1925), "King Henry IV, Part I (1926), "Scotch Mist" (1926), "Head Or Tail" (1926), "The Road To Rome" (1927), "Hidden" (1927), "The Jealous Moon" (1928), "Paolo And Francesca" (1929), "Death Takes A Holiday" (1931, playing opposite actress Ethel Barrymore), "Cynara" (1931), "Mary Of Scotland" (1933), "Valley Forge" (1934, as 'General George Washington'), "Othello" (1935), "MacBeth" (1935), "Call It A Day" (1936), "And Now Good-Bye" (1937), "Lorelei" (1938), "Spring Meeting" (1938), "Ladies And Gentlaman" (1939), "The Talley Method" (1941), "The Duke In Darkness" (1944, as 'The Duke Of Laterraine'), and "Public Relationships" (1944, as 'Wallace Maxwell'). He made his actual film debut in the role of 'Taffy Wayne' in "Trilby" (1914). The film which was directed by Harold M. Shaw, and also starred Ian Swinley, Herbert Beerbohm Tree, and Viva Birkett, tells the story of a hypnotist who makes an artist's model sing, but cannot force her love. Besides, "Trilby" (1914), and "This Above All" (1942), his many other film credits include, "Whispering Shadows" (1921), "Give Us This Night" (1936), "Mr & Mrs. Smith" (1941), "Rage In Heaven" (1941), "Pacific Blackout" (1941), Lady For A Night" (1942), "Crossroads" (1942), "Hangmen Also Die!" (1943), "This Land Is Mine" (1943), "Lost Angel" (1943), "The Hour Before The Dawn" (1944), "Nothing But Trouble' (1944), "Tonight And Every Night" (1945), "Adventure" (1945), "The Stranger" (1946), and his last role, as 'Dr. Brack' in the biographical film "Sister Kenny" (1946), which tells the true story of Australian nurse Sister Elizabeth Kenny who was a self-trained Australian bush nurse who developed a new approach for treating victims of poliomyelitis, which was controversial at the time. The actress Rosalind Russell who played the role of 'Sister Elizabeth Kenny' was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film. Besides, acting he was an author having written two books, "The Wind Over The Water," and "The Cromwell Over The Carribees." He continued writing and acting until his death. He passed away from a heart ailment in Los Angeles, California, on March 12, 1946, at the age of 59. He was cremated through Pierce Brothers Crematory in Los Angeles, California, and his ashes were sent to an unknown location in London, England. He was married twice, first to actress Viva Burkett (1887-1934), from July 23, 1912, until her death on June 26, 1934. The couple had four children together. He married for a second time to actress Gladys Cooper (1888-1971), from 1937 until his death on March 12, 1946. The couple had no children together. His son was the actor John Merivale (1917-1990). His daughters Valentine 'Val' Merivale (1916-1965), and Rosamund Merivale (1913-2004), both became actresses. His other son was, Philip Merivale (1920-1953), who is buried in Kitale Cemetery in Kitale, Kenya. His sister Dame Dorothea Merivale (1888-1951), was married to the civil servant Sir Henry Bunbury (1887-1968), who was the Accountant-General of the Post Office.