George Murphy
Biography
George Murphy was an American dancer and stage, screen, and television actor, as well as a United States Senator. Born on July 4, 1902, in New Haven, Connecticut, he was known for his work as a song-and-dance leading man in big-budget Hollywood musicals from 1930 to 1952. His known film and television credits include appearances in Broadway Melody of 1940, Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, and Bojiště. He served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1944 to 1946 and received an honorary Oscar in 1951. Later in his career, he served from 1965 to 1971 as a United States Senator from California. He passed away on May 3, 1992, at the age of 89.
Career overview
George Murphy was an American dancer and stage, screen, and television actor, as well as a United States Senator. Born on July 4, 1902, in New Haven, Connecticut, he was known in films as a song-and-dance man. From 1930 to 1952, he appeared as a song-and-dance leading man in many big-budget Hollywood musicals. Among the projects associated with his career are Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, Broadway Melody of 1940, and Bojiště. He accumulated sixty-three known acting credits throughout his career in movies and television shows.
Alongside his work in the entertainment industry, Murphy was active in professional leadership and politics. He served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1944 to 1946. Later, he transitioned into public office and served from 1965 to 1971 as a United States Senator from California. He was the first notable American actor to be elected to statewide office in California, preceding Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Additionally, he is noted as the only United States Senator represented by a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. George Murphy passed away on May 3, 1992, at the age of eighty-nine.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
64 titles- Cole Porter in Hollywood: Begin the Beguine (2003)
- Frank Capra's American Dream (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- That's Entertainment! III (1994) as (archive footage)
- That's Dancing! (1985) as From 'Broadway Rhythm' (archive footage)
- That's Entertainment! (1974) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958)
- The Thin Man (1957)
- MGM Parade (1955) as Host
- 1955 Motion Picture Theatre Celebration (1955)
- The Hoaxters (1952) as Narrator (voice)
- Walk East on Beacon (1952) as Inspector James 'Jim' Belden
- Talk About a Stranger (1952) as Robert Fontaine Sr.
- No Questions Asked (1951) as Police Insp. Matt Duggan
- It's a Big Country (1951) as Mr. Patrick Callaghan
- Battleground (1949) as 'Pop' Stazak
- Border Incident (1949) as Jack Bearnes
- Tenth Avenue Angel (1948) as Steve Abbutt
- Big City (1948) as Patrick O'Donnell
- The Arnelo Affair (1947) as Theodore 'Ted' Parkson
- Cynthia (1947) as Larry Bishop
- Up Goes Maisie (1946) as Joseph Morton
- Having Wonderful Crime (1945) as Jake Justus
- Show Business (1944) as George Doane
- Twenty Years After (1944) as (archive footage)
- Step Lively (1944) as Gordon Miller
- Broadway Rhythm (1944) as Johnny Demming
- This Is the Army (1943) as Jerry Jones
- Show-Business at War (1943) as Self
- Bataan (1943) as Lt. Steve Bentley
- The Powers Girl (1943) as Jerry Hendricks
- For Me and My Gal (1942) as Jimmy K. Metcalf
- The Mayor of 44th Street (1942) as Joe Jonathan
- The Navy Comes Through (1942) as Lt. Thomas L. 'Tom' Sands
- They Died with Their Boots On (1941) as Cavalryman (uncredited)
- They Died with Their Boots On (1941) Stunts
- Ringside Maisie (1941) as Francis X. 'Skeets' / 'Skeeter' Maguire
- Tom, Dick and Harry (1941) as Tom
- A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob (1941) as Claudius "Coffee Cup" Cup
- Rise and Shine (1941) as Jimmy McGonagle
- Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940) as King Shaw
- A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound (1940) as Self
- Little Nellie Kelly (1940) as Jerry Kelly
- Public Deb No. 1 (1940) as Alan Blake
- Two Girls on Broadway (1940) as Eddie Kerns
- Hollywood Hobbies (1939) as Self (uncredited)
- Risky Business (1939) as Dan Clifford
- Rhumba Rhythm at the Hollywood La Conga (1939) as Himself (uncredited)
- Little Miss Broadway (1938) as Roger Wendling
- Letter of Introduction (1938) as Barry Paige
- Hold That Co-ed (1938) as Rusty Stevens
- Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937) as Sonny Ledford
- The Women Men Marry (1937) as Bill Raeburn
- You're a Sweetheart (1937) as Hal Adams
- London by Night (1937) as Michael Denis
- Top of the Town (1937) as Ted Lane
- Woman Trap (1936) as Keat Shevlin
- Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1) (1936) as Self
- Violets in Spring (1936) as Charlie Hall
- I'll Love You Always (1935) as Carl Brent
- The Public Menace (1935) as Edward Joseph "Red" Foster
- After the Dance (1935) as Jerry Davis
- Kid Millions (1934) as Jerry Lane
- Jealousy (1934) as Larry O'Roarke
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is George Murphy best known for?
George Murphy is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including That's Entertainment! III (1994), That's Entertainment! (1974), The Merv Griffin Show (1962), Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958).
When and where was George Murphy born?
George Murphy was born on July 4, 1902 in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. They passed away on May 3, 1992.
How many credits does George Murphy have?
George Murphy has accumulated over 64 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1934 to 2003.
What is George Murphy's background in cinema and television?
George Murphy was an American dancer and stage, screen, and television actor, as well as a United States Senator. Born on July 4, 1902, in New Haven, Connecticut, he was known for his work as a song-and-dance leading man in big-budget Hollywood musicals from 1930 to 1952. His known film and television credits include a...
George Murphy by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Thin Man (1957) — aged about 54
- MGM Parade (1955) as Host — aged about 52
- That's Entertainment! (1974) as (archive footage) (uncredited) — aged about 71
- That's Entertainment! III (1994) as (archive footage) — aged about 91
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self — aged about 59
- Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958) — aged about 55
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