George Murphy

DOB: 1902-07-04

DOD: 1992-05-03

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.

Starred In

1949
Movie

Battleground

1952
Movie

The Hoaxters

1942
Movie

For Me and My Gal

1949
Movie

Border Incident

1947
Movie

The Arnelo Affair

1944
Movie

Step Lively

1943
Movie

Bataan

1943
Movie

This Is the Army

1941
Movie

Rise and Shine

1944
Movie

Broadway Rhythm

1951
Movie

No Questions Asked

1951
Movie

It's a Big Country

1948
Movie

Tenth Avenue Angel

1941
Movie

Ringside Maisie

1947
Movie

Cynthia

1935
Movie

The Public Menace

1944
Movie

Show Business

1946
Movie

Up Goes Maisie

1948
Movie

Big City

1937
Movie

London by Night

1938
Movie

Hold That Co-ed

1939
Movie

Hollywood Hobbies

1934
Movie

Kid Millions

1939
Movie

Risky Business

1943
Movie

The Powers Girl

1940
Movie

Public Deb No. 1

1937
Movie

Top of the Town

1935
Movie

After the Dance

1936
Movie

Woman Trap

1934
Movie

Jealousy

1936
Movie

Violets in Spring

1944
Movie

Twenty Years After

1985
Movie

That's Dancing!

1957
Tv

The Thin Man

1955
Tv

MGM Parade