Donald Meek: Movies & Box Office

Thomas Donald Meek was a highly respected Scottish-American actor, born on July 14, 1878, in Glasgow, Scotland. He initially started public performances at the young age of eight and began appearing on Broadway in 1903. Meek became notably known for his roles in the widely acclaimed films You Can't Take It with You (1938) and Stagecoach (1939). He was graced with a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 as a testament to his impressive body of work.

In his early years, Meek emigrated from Glasgow with his family to Canada and then on to the United States. By the early 20th century, they were residing in Philadelphia. Before embarking into his acting career, Meek served in the Spanish–American War with the U.S. Army, during which he contracted yellow fever that led him to lose his hair. His signature scarred look allowed him to play specific characters, often timid, worried ones, creating a niche for himself in the Hollywood scene. From 1931-1932, Meek featured as criminologist Dr. Crabtree in 12 Warner Bros. short subjects penned by S.S. Van Dine. After a prolific career appearing in over 100 Hollywood films, Meek unfortunately passed away from leukemia on November 18, 1946, while filming Mr. Twiddle in Magic Town.