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 appeared 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.
Early years 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.
Career
Meek's Broadway credits include The Minister's Daughters (1903), Going Up (1917), Nothing But Love (1919), The Hottentot (1920), Little Old New York (1920), Six-Cylinder Love (1921), Tweedles (1923), The Potters (1923), Easy Terms (1925), Fool's Bells (1925), Love 'em and Leave 'em (1926), The Shelf (1926), Spread Eagle (1927), My Princess (1927), The Ivory Door (1927), Mr. Moneypenny (1928), and Jonesy (1929). In Broken Dishes (1929), he starred with a young Bette Davis.
After years on the stage, Meek became a film actor. His movies include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Little Miss Broadway, and State Fair.
Meek, who had lost his hair due to yellow fever, was cast as timid, worried characters in many of his films. Notable roles include Mr. Poppins in Frank Capra's You Can't Take It With You and 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 Bros. two-reel short subjects written by S.S. Van Dine.
Personal life Meek and Isabella "Belle" Walken married in Boston in a Methodist church on 3 January 1909. By this marriage, the American-born Belle Meek lost her United States citizenship by taking her husband's British nationality.
Death 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.
Selected filmography +YearTitleRoleNotes1923Six Cylinder Love Richard Burton1929The Hole in the Wall Goofy1930The Love Kiss William1931The Girl Habit JonesyPersonal Maid Pa Ryan1932Wayward Hotel ClerkUncredited1933Love, Honor, and Oh Baby!Luther BowenEver in My Heart StorekeeperScenes deletedCollege CoachProf. Spencer Trask1934Hi Nellie! DurkinBedside Dr. George WileyThe Last Gentleman Judd BarrMurder at the Vanities Dr. SaundersThe Defense Rests FoggThe Merry Widow ValetMrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage PatchMr. WiggsWhat Every Woman Knows SnibbyUncreditedThe Captain Hates the Sea Josephus BushmillsIt's a Gift Uncle Bean in PhotographUncreditedThe Mighty Barnum Scene deleted1935Biography of a Bachelor Girl Mr. IrishRomance in Manhattan MinisterThe Gilded LilyHankersonSociety Doctor MoxleyThe Whole Town's TalkingHoytBaby Face Harrington SkinnerMark of the Vampire Dr. DoskilThe InformerPeter MulliganVillage Tale CharlieOld Man RhythmPaul ParkerChina Seas Passenger Playing ChessUncreditedAccent on YouthOrvilleHappiness C.O.D. Thomas SherridanThe Return of Peter Grimm Mayor Everett BartholomewShe Couldn't Take It Uncle WyndershamBarbary Coast Sawbuck McTavishPeter Ibbetson Mr. SladeKind Lady Mr. FosterCaptain Blood Dr. WhackerThe Bride Comes Home The Judge1936Everybody's Old ManFinneyAnd So They Were Married Hotel ManagerOne Rainy AfternoonJudgeThree Wise Guys GribbieThree Married Men Mr. FrisbeeOld Hutch Mr. GunnisonTwo in a Crowd BennettLove on the RunCaretakerPennies from Heaven Gramp Smith1937Maid of Salem Ezra CheevesBehind the Headlines PotterParnell MurphyThree LegionnairesUriah S. GrantThe Toast of New YorkDaniel DrewArtists and ModelsDr. ZimmerMake a Wish JosephDouble Wedding Judge BlynnUncreditedBreakfast for Two Justice of the PeaceYou're a Sweetheart Conway Jeeters1938Double Danger Gordon Ainsley aka Henry RobinsonThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer Sunday School SuperintendentGoodbye BroadwayIradius P. OglethorpeHaving Wonderful TimeP.U. RogersLittle Miss Broadway Willoughby WendlingYou Can't Take It with You PoppinsHold That Co-ed Dean Fletcher1939Jesse JamesMcCoyStagecoach Samuel PeacockYoung Mr. Lincoln Prosecutor John FelderBlondie Takes a VacationJonathan N. GillisHollywood CavalcadeLyle P. StoutThe Housekeeper's Daughter Editor WilsonNick Carter, Master DetectiveBartholomew1940Oh, Johnny, How You Can Love Adelbert ThistlebottomDr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet MittelmeyerMy Little Chickadee Amos BudgeThe Man from DakotaMr. VestryThe Ghost Comes HomeMortimer Hopkins, Sr.Star Dust Sam WellmanTurnabout HenryPhantom Raiders BartholomewThe Return of Frank James McCoySky Murder BartholomewThird Finger, Left HandMr. FlandrinHullabaloo Mr. Clyde Perkins1941Design for Scandal The Wild Man of BorneoProfessor BirdoCome Live with Me Joe DarsieBlonde Inspiration 'Dusty' KingFree and EasyToutUncreditedBarnacle Bill 'Pop' CavendishA Woman's Face Herman RundvikThe Feminine TouchCaptain Makepeace LiverightRise and ShineProfessor Philip MurrayBabes on BroadwayMr. Stone1942Tortilla Flat Paul D. CummingsMaisie Gets Her Man Mr. StickwellThe Omaha Trail Engineer Jonah McCleodSeven Sweethearts Reverend Howgan1943Keeper of the FlameMr. ArbuthnotThey Got Me CoveredLittle Old ManAir Raid WardensEustance MiddlingDu Barry Was a LadyMr. Jones / Duc de ChoiseulLost Angel Professor Catty1944Rationing Wilfred BallTwo Girls and a Sailor Mr. NizbyBathing Beauty Chester KlazenfrantzMaisie Goes to Reno ParsonsBarbary Coast Gent Bradford Bellamy I1945The Thin Man Goes Home Willie CrumpState Fair Hippenstahl1946Because of Him MartinColonel Effingham's Raid Doc BudenJanie Gets Married Harley P. StowersAffairs of GeraldineCasper Millhouse1947The Fabulous Joe Henry CadwalladerPosthumous releaseMagic TownMr. Twiddle
References
External links
Portraits of Donald Meek from Stagecoach by Ned Scott