Burgess Meredith

Meredith in 1938, Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs division, hec.24121., Harris & Ewing

Birth Name: Oliver Burgess Meredith

Date of Birth: November 16, 1907

Place of Birth: Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, U.S.

Date of Death: September 9, 1997

Place of Death: Malibu, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: English, some Welsh, distant German

Burgess Meredith was an American actor, director, producer, and writer. His roles included the films Winterset, Of Mice and Men, The Story of G.I. Joe, The Day of the Locust, Rocky, Foul Play, and Clash of the Titans, television’s The Twilight Zone and Batman, and numerous stage performances.

Burgess was the son of Ida Beth (Burgess) and William George Meredith. His father was Canadian, from Toronto, Ontario. His mother was American, from Ohio. He was married to Kaja Sundsten, until his death, with whom he had two children, James, a musician, and Tala, a painter.

Burgess’s paternal grandfather was named William Grafton Meredith (the son of John Meredith and Ruth). William was born in Perth, Ontario, Canada.

Burgess’s paternal grandmother was Diantha Jane Pettet (the daughter of Joseph Pettet and Amanda Waite). Diantha was born in Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada. Joseph was the son of William Isaac Pettet and Elizabeth Harriman. Amanda was the daughter of Sisson Waite and Mary Grace Draper.

Burgess’s maternal grandfather was Oliver C. Burgess (the son of William Pitt Burgess and Lydia G. Plummer). Oliver was born in Frederick County, Maryland. William was the son of John Burgess and Eleanor Griffith. Lydia was the daughter of Jesse Plummer and Ruth Griffith.

Burgess’s maternal grandmother was Caroline Matilda Cogswell (the daughter of Benjamin Cogswell and Susanna Bill). Caroline was born in Fabius, Onondaga, New York. Benjamin was the son of Solomon Cogswell and Sarah Cowles. Susanna was the daughter of Jabez Bill and Olive Jewett.

Sources: Genealogies of Burgess Meredith (focusing on his mother’s side) – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com
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