George Murphy
Acting • Born 1902-07-04 – Died 1992-05-03
Biography
George Murphy was an American dancer and stage, screen, and television actor, as well as a United States Senator. Murphy was a song-and-dance leading man in many big-budget Hollywood musicals from 1930 to 1952. He was the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1944 to 1946, and was awarded an honorary Oscar in 1951. Murphy served from 1965 to 1971 as U.S. Senator from California, the first notable U.S. actor to be elected to statewide office in California, predating Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is the only United States Senator represented by a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In movies, Murphy was known as a song-and-dance man and appeared in many big-budget musicals such as Broadway Melody of 1938, Broadway Melody of 1940 and For Me and My Gal. He made his movie debut shortly after talking pictures had replaced silent movies in 1930, and his career continued until he retired as an actor in 1952, at the age of 50. During World War II, he organized entertainment for American troops. In 1951, he was awarded an honorary Academy Award. He was never nominated for an Oscar in any competitive category. He was the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1944 to 1946. He was also a vice president of Desilu Productions and of the Technicolor Corporation. He was director of entertainment for presidential inaugurations in 1953, 1957 and 1961.
Filmography
63 credits
Battleground
Movie • 1949
'Pop' Stazak
The Hoaxters
Movie • 1952
Narrator (voice)
For Me and My Gal
Movie • 1942
Jimmy K. Metcalf
Border Incident
Movie • 1949
Jack Bearnes
The Arnelo Affair
Movie • 1947
Theodore 'Ted' Parkson
Step Lively
Movie • 1944
Gordon Miller
Bataan
Movie • 1943
Lt. Steve Bentley
This Is the Army
Movie • 1943
Jerry Jones
Broadway Melody of 1940
Movie • 1940
King Shaw
Little Nellie Kelly
Movie • 1940
Jerry Kelly
Broadway Melody of 1938
Movie • 1937
Sonny Ledford
Little Miss Broadway
Movie • 1938
Roger Wendling
Rise and Shine
Movie • 1941
Jimmy McGonagle
Broadway Rhythm
Movie • 1944
Johnny Demming
No Questions Asked
Movie • 1951
Police Insp. Matt Duggan
It's a Big Country
Movie • 1951
Mr. Patrick Callaghan
Tom, Dick and Harry
Movie • 1941
Tom
Talk About a Stranger
Movie • 1952
Robert Fontaine Sr.
Two Girls on Broadway
Movie • 1940
Eddie Kerns
Walk East on Beacon
Movie • 1952
Inspector James 'Jim' Belden
Letter of Introduction
Movie • 1938
Barry Paige
The Navy Comes Through
Movie • 1942
Lt. Thomas L. 'Tom' Sands
Tenth Avenue Angel
Movie • 1948
Steve Abbutt
Ringside Maisie
Movie • 1941
Francis X. 'Skeets' / 'Skeeter' Maguire
Having Wonderful Crime
Movie • 1945
Jake Justus
Cynthia
Movie • 1947
Larry Bishop
The Public Menace
Movie • 1935
Edward Joseph "Red" Foster
The Women Men Marry
Movie • 1937
Bill Raeburn
Show Business
Movie • 1944
George Doane
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob
Movie • 1941
Claudius "Coffee Cup" Cup
Up Goes Maisie
Movie • 1946
Joseph Morton
The Mayor of 44th Street
Movie • 1942
Joe Jonathan
Big City
Movie • 1948
Patrick O'Donnell
London by Night
Movie • 1937
Michael Denis
Hold That Co-ed
Movie • 1938
Rusty Stevens
Hollywood Hobbies
Movie • 1939
Self (uncredited)
1955 Motion Picture Theatre Celebration
Movie • 1955
Kid Millions
Movie • 1934
Jerry Lane
Risky Business
Movie • 1939
Dan Clifford
The Powers Girl
Movie • 1943
Jerry Hendricks
Public Deb No. 1
Movie • 1940
Alan Blake
You're a Sweetheart
Movie • 1937
Hal Adams
Top of the Town
Movie • 1937
Ted Lane
Cole Porter in Hollywood: Begin the Beguine
Movie • 2003
After the Dance
Movie • 1935
Jerry Davis
That's Entertainment!
Movie • 1974
(archive footage) (uncredited)
Woman Trap
Movie • 1936
Keat Shevlin
Rhumba Rhythm at the Hollywood La Conga
Movie • 1939
Himself (uncredited)
They Died with Their Boots On
Movie • 1941
Cavalryman (uncredited)
I'll Love You Always
Movie • 1935
Carl Brent
Jealousy
Movie • 1934
Larry O'Roarke
Show-Business at War
Movie • 1943
Self
Violets in Spring
Movie • 1936
Charlie Hall
That's Entertainment! III
Movie • 1994
(archive footage)
A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound
Movie • 1940
Self
Twenty Years After
Movie • 1944
(archive footage)
Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)
Movie • 1936
Self
That's Dancing!
Movie • 1985
From 'Broadway Rhythm' (archive footage)
Frank Capra's American Dream
Movie • 1997
Self (archive footage)
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
TV • 1958
The Thin Man
TV • 1957
MGM Parade
TV • 1955
Host
The Merv Griffin Show
TV • 1962
Self