Ralph Meeker
Biography
Ralph Meeker was an American actor born Ralph Rathgeber on November 21, 1920, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and died on August 5, 1988, at the age of sixty-seven. He first rose to prominence through his stage work in the Broadway productions of Mister Roberts, running from 1948 to 1951, and Picnic in 1953. His performance in Mister Roberts earned him a Theatre World Award. In film, Meeker is known for playing Mike Hammer in Robert Aldrich's 1955 movie Kiss Me Deadly. His subsequent film roles capitalized on his husky and macho screen presence, including a lead role in Stanley Kubrick's 1957 military courtroom drama Paths of Glory, a role as a troubled mechanic opposite Carroll Baker in the 1961 film Something Wild, and a role as a World War II captain in The Dirty Dozen.
Career overview
Ralph Meeker was born Ralph Rathgeber on November 21, 1920, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and passed away on August 5, 1988, at the age of sixty-seven. He was an American actor who first rose to prominence for his work in Broadway productions, including Mister Roberts, which ran from 1948 to 1951, and Picnic in 1953. His performance in Mister Roberts earned him a Theatre World Award.
In film, Meeker is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Mike Hammer in Robert Aldrich's 1955 movie Kiss Me Deadly. He subsequently played a series of roles that utilized his husky and macho screen presence. These included a lead role in Stanley Kubrick's 1957 military courtroom drama Paths of Glory, the role of a troubled mechanic opposite Carroll Baker in the 1961 film Something Wild, and a role as a World War II captain in The Dirty Dozen.
During his career, Meeker amassed eighty-eight known acting credits in movies and television shows.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
101 titles- The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel Fuller (2002) as Lt. Driscoll (archive footage)
- Without Warning (1980) as Dave
- Winter Kills (1979) as Gameboy Baker
- Kaz (1978)
- The Eddie Capra Mysteries (1978)
- Hi-Riders (1978) as Mike
- My Boys Are Good Boys (1978) as Bert Morton
- My Boys Are Good Boys (1978) Executive Producer
- The Alpha Incident (1978) as Charlie
- CHiPs (1977)
- The Food of the Gods (1976) as Bensington
- Barbary Coast (1975) as Big Lou Hobart
- Brannigan (1975) as Capt. Moretti
- Johnny Firecloud (1975) as Colby
- The Dead Don't Die (1975) as Lieutenant Reardon
- Police Woman (1974)
- Harry O (1974)
- Run, Joe, Run (1974)
- The Girl on the Late, Late Show (1974) as Inspector DeBiesse
- Cry Panic (1974) as Chuck Braswell
- Night Games (1974) as Dutch Armbreck
- Police Story (1973)
- Toma (1973)
- The Evil Touch (1973)
- Faraday and Company (1973) as Ed Kelso
- Birds of Prey (1973) as Jim McAndrew
- Angela – Love Comes Quietly (1973) as Ben Hoeksema
- You'll Never See Me Again (1973) as Will Alden
- The Rookies (1972)
- The Night Stalker (1972) as Bernie Jenks
- The Mind Snatchers (1972) as The Major
- Cannon (1971)
- Primus (1971)
- The Anderson Tapes (1971) as Police Captain 'Iron Balls' Delaney
- The Reluctant Heroes (1971) as Capt. Luke Danvers
- I Walk the Line (1970) as Carl McCain
- Lost Flight (1970) as Glenn Walkup
- Room 222 (1969)
- The Devil's Eight (1969) as Burl
- The Name of the Game (1968) as Senator Goddard
- The Detective (1968) as Curran
- Ironside (1967)
- The High Chaparral (1967) as Tracy Conlin
- The Dirty Dozen (1967) as Captain Stuart Kinder
- Custer (1967)
- The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967) as George Clarence 'Bugs' Moran
- Gentle Giant (1967) as Fog Hanson
- Tarzan (1966)
- The Green Hornet (1966) as Earl Evans
- The F.B.I. (1965) as King Hogan
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Scott Martin
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Graham Newcomb
- The Outer Limits (1963) as John Dexter
- Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) as Harly Clay
- Wall of Noise (1963) as Matt Rubio
- Going My Way (1962)
- The Defenders (1961) as Floyd Cooper
- Tallahassee 7000 (1961)
- Something Wild (1961) as Mike
- Ada (1961) as Colonel Yancey
- A Holster Full Of Law (1961) as Frank Clell
- Route 66 (1960)
- Not for Hire (1959) as US Army Sergeant Steve Dekker
- The Texan (1958)
- Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958) as Martin Ash
- Paths of Glory (1957) as Cpl. Philippe Paris
- Run of the Arrow (1957) as Lieutenant Driscoll
- The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown (1957) as Mike Valla
- Four Women in Black (1957) as Carbine Webb
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Steve Elkins
- A Woman's Devotion (1956) as Trevor Stevenson
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Carl Spann
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Carl Borden
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Mel Reeves
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as John Forbes
- The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955)
- Kiss Me Deadly (1955) as Mike Hammer
- Big House, U.S.A (1955) as Geraldo 'Jerry' Barker aka Iceman
- Desert Sands (1955) as Capt. David Malcolm
- Climax! (1954) as Alex Hill
- Climax! (1954) as 'Griff' Griffith
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Joe Martin
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Ed James
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Pilot Duke Cavanaugh
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Willis Cooper
- The Naked Spur (1953) as Roy Anderson
- Jeopardy (1953) as Lawson the Fugitive
- Code Two (1953) as Chuck O'Flair
- Shadow in the Sky (1952) as Burt
- Somebody Loves Me (1952) as Benny Fields
- Glory Alley (1952) as Socks Barbarrosa
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Wally Walters
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Rich Adams
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Barry Brannon
- Teresa (1951) as Sgt. Dobbs
- Four in a Jeep (1951) as Sergeant William Long
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Nicky Hanks
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Mike
- Studio One (1948) as Steve Windom
- Studio One (1948) as Larry Sheridan
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Ralph Meeker best known for?
Ralph Meeker is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Without Warning (1980), Winter Kills (1979), Hi-Riders (1978), My Boys Are Good Boys (1978).
When and where was Ralph Meeker born?
Ralph Meeker was born on November 21, 1920 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. They passed away on August 5, 1988.
How many credits does Ralph Meeker have?
Ralph Meeker has accumulated over 101 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1948 to 2002.
What is Ralph Meeker's background in cinema and television?
Ralph Meeker was an American actor born Ralph Rathgeber on November 21, 1920, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and died on August 5, 1988, at the age of sixty-seven. He first rose to prominence through his stage work in the Broadway productions of Mister Roberts, running from 1948 to 1951, and Picnic in 1953. His performance...