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Gary Merrill

Gary Fred Merrill (August 2, 1915 – March 5, 1990) was an American actor known for his rugged screen presence and deep voice in over 40 films spanning four decades, including prominent roles in war dramas and alongside major stars. He achieved early recognition for portraying a B-17 squadron commander in Twelve O'Clock High (1949), earning a Photoplay Award, and for his part as a theatrical critic in All About Eve (1950), the latter film's best-picture Oscar winner in which he co-starred with and soon married actress Bette Davis. Merrill's career originated on stage during the late and advanced through military service in , where he performed in productions leading to film debuts in This Is the Army (1943) and Winged Victory (1944). Postwar, he balanced supporting roles in genres like Westerns and medical dramas with television appearances and regional theater, particularly in later years after relocating to in 1965. His personal life drew attention due to his tempestuous ten-year marriage to Davis, which produced no biological children but involved adopting her daughter; the union ended in divorce amid reported struggles with alcoholism. Merrill succumbed to at age 74 in his , home, five months after Davis's death.

Early Life

Childhood and Family Background

Gary Fred Merrill was born on August 2, 1915, in , to Benjamin Gary Merrill (1892–1972), a native of , and Hazel May Andrews Merrill (1894–1969). His paternal grandparents were William K. Merrill and an unnamed spouse, while his maternal grandparents included Andrews and Alice Olivia. The Merrill family maintained longstanding roots in , reflecting a regional heritage common among early 20th-century residents. Limited public records detail Merrill's specific childhood experiences in , a growing at the time, though his early life aligned with a typical middle-class upbringing in the region before his pursuits in and . He had at least one , though further familial dynamics remain sparsely documented in available biographical accounts.

Initial Interests and Education

Merrill, born on August 2, 1915, in , to Benjamin Gary Merrill and Hazel Merrill, exhibited an early inclination toward performance, though specific childhood hobbies beyond this are sparsely documented in contemporary accounts. His initial professional pursuits centered on , as he commenced appearances in productions in the late , marking the onset of his stage career around 1937. For formal education, Merrill enrolled at in , but transferred after one year to Trinity College in , his hometown institution. Neither college records indicate degree completion, as his acting ambitions soon superseded academic progression; he subsequently pursued drama studies in to hone his craft. This preparatory phase aligned with his entry into military service in the United States Army Air Forces during , where he secured his first credited film role in the 1944 wartime drama Winged Victory, filmed with active-duty personnel.

Acting Career

Stage and Early Professional Beginnings

Merrill commenced his professional acting career in regional theater, beginning with productions in the late . His earliest documented work dates to 1937, prior to his . During , while enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces, Merrill participated in the all-military cast of Moss Hart's play Winged Victory, which premiered on on November 20, 1943, and ran for 668 performances until closing in May 1944. This wartime production marked his introduction to major work, leveraging his service to fulfill casting requirements for active-duty personnel. Postwar, Merrill transitioned to Broadway with a role in Garson Kanin's Born Yesterday, joining the original cast that opened at the Lyceum Theatre on February 4, 1946, and achieved 1,642 performances over three years. In the production, he portrayed Eddie, a minor character serving as a and photographer's assistant, contributing to the play's success amid its satirical depiction of . These early stage experiences honed his skills in ensemble and character roles before his pivot to film in the mid-1940s.

Film Breakthrough and Peak Years (1940s-1950s)

Merrill began his film career with minor roles during World War II, appearing uncredited as a military policeman in This Is the Army (1943) and as Captain McIntyre in Winged Victory (1944), both patriotic productions supporting the war effort. Following military service, he transitioned to more substantial parts, including Slattery's Hurricane (1949), a aviation drama co-starring Richard Widmark. His first significant supporting role came in Twelve O'Clock High (1949), directed by Henry King, where he portrayed Colonel Keith Davenport, the initial group commander whose emotional attachment to his men leads to his relief by Gregory Peck's stricter Brigadier General Frank Savage; the film earned two Academy Award nominations, including Best Supporting Actor for Dean Jagger. The year 1950 marked Merrill's breakthrough with the role of Bill Sampson, a theater director and romantic partner to Bette Davis's aging star Margo Channing, in Joseph L. Mankiewicz's . This sharply witty drama about ambition and betrayal in the theater world received 14 Oscar nominations—the most for any film at the time—winning six, including Best Picture and Best Director for Mankiewicz. Merrill's performance as the grounded, supportive Sampson provided contrast to the film's more flamboyant characters and contributed to his rising profile, though he was not nominated for an award. That same year, he played gangster Tommy Scalise in Otto Preminger's , opposite , and the lead in the romantic comedy . Merrill's peak film years extended into the early 1950s with a series of supporting roles in diverse genres. In Decision Before Dawn (1951), Anatole Litvak's World War II espionage thriller, he appeared as an American officer; the film won an Oscar for Best Film Editing. He reunited with Davis for Another Man's Poison (1951), a British thriller based on a play, and A Blueprint for Murder (1953), a murder mystery co-starring Joseph Cotten. Other credits included Phone Call from a Stranger (1952), an anthology drama with Shelley Winters, and Witness to Murder (1953), a tense thriller with Barbara Stanwyck as a woman terrorized by a killer. These roles showcased Merrill's rugged demeanor and deep voice, often casting him as authoritative or antagonistic figures, though his film output began to decline by mid-decade as he shifted toward television.

Television, Radio, and Later Roles

Merrill's early radio work capitalized on his resonant baritone, securing him a recurring role as Bruce Wayne/Batman in The Adventures of Superman on the Mutual Broadcasting System during the mid-1940s. He also featured in dramatic anthologies such as Escape ("Seeds of Greed," aired December 27, 1949), Lux Radio Theatre (including a 1952 adaptation of Follow the Sun), Suspense, Studio One, and The Eternal Light (special performance, August 1, 1948). Merrill entered television in 1953 with a guest role on the anthology series Danger. From April 8, 1954, to March 25, 1956, he co-starred as defense attorney Jason Tyler in the NBC legal drama Justice, which dramatized real cases handled by the Legal Aid Society of New York; his co-stars included Dane Clark (later replaced by William Prince) as prosecutor Richard Adams. In 1964, he played hard-nosed city editor Lou Sheldon in the CBS newspaper drama The Reporter, supporting lead Harry Guardino as investigative columnist Danny Taylor; the series aired 34 episodes over one season before cancellation. Guest spots defined much of Merrill's television output in the through , spanning westerns, crime procedurals, and anthologies, including a 1958 appearance with . Later credits encompassed the The (1979, as Capt. Hull), The (1977 TV movie), (1973, as Andrew McGill), Movin' On (1974–1975, as Samson and Paul Lorimer), and The (1979–1980, as Willie Brogan in multiple episodes). Sporadic film roles persisted into Merrill's later years, such as the gambler Nash Crosby in (1967, opposite ) and a street man in (1977). By the 1980s, with on-screen opportunities diminishing, he sustained himself through for radio and television commercials, leveraging his distinctive for corporate spots. After 1980, Merrill largely withdrew from acting, save for occasional work.

Personal Life

Marriages and Relationships

Gary Merrill's first marriage was to actress Barbara Leeds in 1941; the couple divorced on July 28, 1950. On the same day as his divorce from Leeds, Merrill married actress in , following a romance that developed during the filming of the 1950 movie , in which they portrayed husband and wife. The union lasted a decade, ending in an uncontested divorce granted to Davis on July 6, 1960, amid reports of ongoing conflicts and financial strains. Merrill did not remarry after his divorce from Davis.

Family and Children

Gary Merrill adopted actress Bette Davis's daughter from her prior marriage to William Grant Sherry, Barbara "B.D." Hyman (born May 1, 1947), following their marriage on July 28, 1950. Together, Merrill and Davis adopted daughter Margot Mosher Merrill (born January 6, 1951) and son Michael Merrill in 1951. Margot sustained brain damage at birth, resulting in severe intellectual disabilities that necessitated institutional care for much of her life. The Merrills raised their three children amid the couple's acting careers and personal challenges, including Merrill's struggles with , until their on July 6, 1960. Post-divorce, primary custody remained with , though Merrill maintained some contact with the children in subsequent years. Michael Merrill, the sole son, later pursued a career in and contributed to efforts preserving his mother's . Merrill resided in specialized facilities in and passed away peacefully on May 4, 2022, at age 71. Merrill had no biological children and did not remarry after the .

Struggles with Alcoholism and Health Issues

Merrill's to deteriorated amid his struggles with , which manifested in excessive drinking and associated violent outbursts. Davis cited his heavy alcohol consumption and temper as primary grounds for filing for in 1959, after nearly a decade of . Accounts from Davis and their adopted daughter , detailed in Hyman's 1985 memoir , described Merrill as inflicting under the influence, including incidents during family visits that strained relationships further. These portrayals, while contested by Davis who initially viewed him as a "good drinker," contributed to a public image of Merrill as a borderline alcoholic whose habits fueled raucous parties and personal conflicts. The persisted as a factor in his post-divorce life, exacerbating financial difficulties and limiting professional opportunities, though Merrill did not remarry and maintained a lower profile thereafter. In his 1988 autobiography Bette, Rita, and the Rest of My Life, Merrill reflected on these challenges without fully disputing the role of in his marital breakdown, instead emphasizing broader relational strains. In terms of physical health, Merrill faced in his final years, diagnosed around 1988 and battling the disease for two years until his death on March 5, 1990, at age 74. He succumbed at his home in Falmouth Foreside, , where he had retired in the mid-1970s to focus on personal pursuits like and poetry readings, away from the demands of . No direct causal link between his and the cancer was reported in contemporary accounts, though his history—common among mid-20th-century actors—likely contributed, as was typical for such diagnoses at the time.

Political Involvement

1968 Congressional Candidacy

In 1968, Gary Merrill, a longtime resident of , announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the state's 1st , marking a shift from his acting career to . Running as an underdog against more established contenders, Merrill positioned himself as a "peace candidate," emphasizing opposition to the alongside domestic concerns such as environmental and alleviation. Merrill's campaign involved efforts, including personal outreach like sidewalk electioneering from a to connect with voters in and surrounding areas. He leveraged his celebrity status from roles to draw attention, though his lack of prior political experience and the district's preference for traditional figures limited his traction. The , held on June 17, 1968, saw Merrill defeated by A. Hildreth Jr., a more conventional GOP contender who advanced to the general election. Hildreth's nomination reflected the party's inclination toward candidates with stronger local ties and establishment support in the district encompassing southern . This bid represented Merrill's sole foray into elective office, underscoring his post-acting interests in amid personal challenges, though it garnered limited national notice beyond his fame. The campaign highlighted tensions within the during a turbulent year, with Merrill's anti-war stance diverging from hawkish elements supportive of Lyndon B. Johnson's policies.

Death

Final Years and Illness

In the 1980s, following a decline in major acting roles, Gary Merrill retired to his seaside cottage in Falmouth Foreside, , where he led a reclusive life focused on minimal activities that aligned with his preference for solitude. He maintained a low profile, occasionally reflecting on his career but avoiding public engagements, amid ongoing personal challenges including prior struggles with noted in earlier biographies. Merrill was diagnosed with around 1988, engaging in a two-year battle against the disease that progressively weakened him. Limited details emerged on specific treatments, though his condition deteriorated to the point of confinement at home without reported aggressive interventions like or in public accounts. He died from complications of on March 5, 1990, at age 74, in his Falmouth residence.

Legacy

Professional Reputation and Impact

Gary Merrill earned a reputation as a rugged, deep-voiced capable of portraying tough, authoritative figures in film and television, with credits spanning over 50 feature films, numerous stage productions, and extensive TV appearances. His post-World War II screen debut in films like Winged Victory (1944) led to steady supporting roles, peaking in the early with dramatic parts that showcased his gravelly delivery and physical presence. A pivotal role was Bill Sampson in All About Eve (1950), where Merrill's depiction of a pragmatic theater provided a grounded to the film's theatrical intrigue, aiding the movie's ensemble acclaim and its six , including Best Picture. Critics highlighted his performance as convincingly hard-boiled yet emotionally invested, enhancing the narrative's exploration of ambition and relationships in the . Though not individually Oscar-nominated, Merrill's work in the film solidified his niche in sophisticated dramas and contributed to its enduring status as a benchmark. Merrill's broader impact lay in his versatility across genres, from war films like (1949), for which he received a 1950 Photoplay Award, to noir thrillers such as (1950), where his supporting turns were praised for gritty authenticity. In television, he appeared in over 100 episodes of series including (1959) and Marcus Welby, M.D. (1970s), adapting his authoritative style to episodic drama and sustaining visibility into the 1980s. While never achieving leading-man stardom, his consistent output influenced perceptions of the reliable journeyman actor, bridging Golden Age cinema with modern TV formats.

Personal Reflections and Controversies

In his 1988 autobiography Bette, Rita, and the Rest of My Life, Merrill offered candid reflections on his acting career, describing himself as only an "adequate " who never achieved stardom despite roles in notable films like . He portrayed his 1950–1960 marriage to as passionate yet destructive, marked by intense arguments and lifestyle clashes, while expressing admiration for Davis's relentless drive, stating that "whatever Bette had chosen to do in life, she would have done it to the top." The memoir also detailed his four-year affair with following the divorce, which he recalled with fondness despite Hayworth's own struggles with . Merrill's post-Hollywood years included self-described regrets over unfulfilled ambitions, including his unsuccessful 1968 congressional bid as a in Maine's First District, where he garnered 28% of the vote against Stanley . Controversies in Merrill's legacy largely stem from allegations of during his marriage to , with multiple accounts citing his as a catalyst for verbal and physical mistreatment. filed for divorce on July 6, 1960, in , reportedly fearing for the safety of their adopted children, and , amid escalating domestic strife. 's daughter B.D. reinforced these claims in her 1985 memoir , depicting Merrill as a "violent alcoholic" who inflicted physical harm on . Some contemporaries and later analyses suggested mutual , with occasionally provoking Merrill's outbursts, though primary evidence points to his drinking as the predominant factor in the marriage's breakdown. These revelations, amplified by Hyman's book and dramatizations like the 2017 series , have overshadowed Merrill's professional contributions, framing his personal life as a of excess.

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