A rugged, deep-voiced stage actor who made his first film appearances in "This Is the Army" (1943) and "Winged Victory" (1944), Merrill gained attention in a fine turn supporting Gregory Peck in "Twelve O'Clock High" (1949). He came to prominence opposite future wife Bette Davis in a splendid performance as a cynical and hot-tempered but ultimately reasonable stage director in the backstage comedy-drama "All About Eve" (1950). A likable and reliable performer, he went on to play a number of earnest leads and secondary parts, mostly with 20th Century-Fox, through the 1970s. His 1988 autobiography "Bette, Rita and the Rest of My Life" chronicled his turbulent 10-year marriage to Davis (1950-60) and his affair with actor-dancer Rita Hayworth.
Family
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Brother: Jerry Merrill.
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Daughter: Margot Merrill. adopted; born mentally handicapped
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Son: Michael Merrill. adopted
Significant Others
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Companion: Rita Hayworth. had four-year relationship
Education
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Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine
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Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut
Milestones
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1943 Film debut in This Is the Army
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1944 Appeared in Winged Victory
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1946 Starred on Broadway in Born Yesterday opposite Judy Holliday and Paul Douglas
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1949 Returned to films in Slattery s Hurricane
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1950 Had perhaps best-known role as stage director Bill Sampson in All About Eve
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1952 Co-starred in Decision Before Dawn
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1954 Had starring role in Justice (NBC)
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1964 Appeared as the city editor on the short-lived CBS series The Reporter
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1966 Cast as the Pentagon Chief of Staff in Cast a Giant Shadow
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1967 Co-starred in The Incident
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1972 Played Dr. Gillespie on the syndicated Young Dr. Kildare
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1973 Had featured role in the acclaimed ABC drama special Pueblo
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1974 Portrayed Pap Finn in the feature version of Huckleberry Finn
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1977 Last feature film, Thieves
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After college, moved to NYC to pursue an acting career
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Appeared on Broadway with Milton Berle in See My Lawyer
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Drafted into the US Army
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Hosted and narrated the ABC special The Valiant Years , about Winston Churchill
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Joined the touring company of Brother Rat
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Spent formative years in New England, mostly in Connecticut and Maine