| Ralph Meeker |
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| CATEGORIES ABOUT RALPH MEEKER | |
| american film actors | |
| meeker, ralph | |
| deaths by myocardial infarction | |
| people from minneapolis, minnesota | |
| 1920 births | |
| 1988 deaths | |
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Ralph Meeker ( November 21 , 1920 - August 5 , 1988 ) was a film actor who appeared as Mike Hammer in '' Kiss Me Deadly ''. He was born Ralph Rathgeber in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 21 , 1920 , the son of Ralph and Magnhild Senovia Haavig Meeker Rathgeber. FILM CAREER He made his film debut in 1951 with a small role in MGM's '' Teresa '', followed by a starring role in the Swiss-made ''Four in a Jeep'', directed by Leopold Lindtberg. For his performance in the play '' Picnic '', Meeker was awarded the New York Critic's Circle Award in 1954. ''Picnic'' became a classic film in 1956, with William Holden and Kim Novak starring in the roles originated by Meeker and Janice Rule. Meeker starred as Mike Hammer in the 1955 Robert Aldrich film of Mickey Spillane 's '' Kiss Me Deadly ''. He also starred in the 1967 film, St.Valentine's Day Massacre, as George "Bugs" Moran. He was the producer of the movie '' My Boys Are Good Boys '' (1978) and has made quest appearances on numerous shows. A few of them are CHiPs , Toast Of The Town and Studio One . PERSONAL LIFE He is a graduate of the Leelanau School in Glen Arbor Township, Michigan , and a member of their Hall of Fame. Meeker married two times. His first wife was actress Salome Jens . The marriage lasted from 1964 to 1966. His second marriage was to Colleen Meeker. Major success continually eluded him. He died of a heart attack on August 5 , 1988 , in Woodland Hills, California . EXTERNAL LINKS |
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