George Cleveland
Encyclopedia
George Alan Cleveland was a Canadian
film actor. He appeared in over 180 films between 1933 and 1954.
, Cleveland is perhaps best remembered today as George "Gramps" Miller in the early years of the long running US series
Lassie
(1954 – 1973). The popular TV show underwent cast
& character
changes over the years, and the early seasons in which Cleveland appeared were retitled Jeff's Collie for syndicated reruns and DVD
release. He played the grumpy but kind hearted father in law of farmwoman Ellen Miller (Jan Clayton
), and grandfather of Lassie's owner, Jeff (Tommy Rettig
). Cleveland appeared in the first three seasons (1954 – 1956) and in the first 12 episodes of the fourth season (1957). His death in July 1957 was written into the 13th episode of the fourth season (1957) and became the storyline motive for the selling of the farm and the departure of the Millers for Capitol City.
Cleveland died in Burbank, California
at age 71 from a heart attack
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
film actor. He appeared in over 180 films between 1933 and 1954.
Career
Born in Sydney, Nova ScotiaSydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
, Cleveland is perhaps best remembered today as George "Gramps" Miller in the early years of the long running US series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
Lassie
Lassie (1954 TV series)
Lassie is an American television series that follows the adventures of a female Rough Collie named Lassie and her companions, human and animal. The show was the creation of producer Robert Maxwell and animal trainer Rudd Weatherwax and was televised from September 12, 1954, to March 24, 1973...
(1954 – 1973). The popular TV show underwent cast
Cast member
A cast member is:* An actor who performs in a theatrical production, motion picture, or television program. The actors who perform in the show are collectively referred to as the cast....
& character
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
changes over the years, and the early seasons in which Cleveland appeared were retitled Jeff's Collie for syndicated reruns and DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
release. He played the grumpy but kind hearted father in law of farmwoman Ellen Miller (Jan Clayton
Jan Clayton
Jan Clayton was a film, musical theatre, and television actress.-Career:...
), and grandfather of Lassie's owner, Jeff (Tommy Rettig
Tommy Rettig
Thomas Noel "Tommy" Rettig was an American child actor,computer software engineer, and author. Rettig is best remembered for portraying the character "Jeff Miller" in the first three seasons of CBS's Lassie television series, from 1954–1957, later seen in syndicated re-runs as Jeff's Collie...
). Cleveland appeared in the first three seasons (1954 – 1956) and in the first 12 episodes of the fourth season (1957). His death in July 1957 was written into the 13th episode of the fourth season (1957) and became the storyline motive for the selling of the farm and the departure of the Millers for Capitol City.
Cleveland died in Burbank, California
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
at age 71 from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
.
Selected filmography
- Blue SteelBlue Steel (1934 film)Blue Steel is a 1934 Western film in which John Wayne plays a U.S. Marshal who is trying to capture the Polka Dot Bandit, who has taken off with $4,000.The film is also sometimes referred to as An Innocent Man in the USA.-Plot:...
(1934) - The Man from UtahThe Man from UtahThe Man from Utah is a 1934 Western movie starring John Wayne, Polly Ann Young , Lafe McKee, Edward Peil Sr., and stuntman/actor Yakima Canutt. The film was written by Lindsley Parsons and directed by Robert N. Bradbury.-Cast:...
(1934) - Flash GordonFlash Gordon (serial)Flash Gordon is a 1936 science fiction film serial. Told in 13 installments, it was the first screen adventure for the comic-strip character Flash Gordon, and tells the story of his first visit to the planet Mongo and his encounter with the evil Emperor Ming the Merciless. Buster Crabbe, Jean...
(1936) - Revolt of the Zombies (1936)
- Robinson Crusoe of Clipper IslandRobinson Crusoe of Clipper IslandRobinson Crusoe of Clipper Island is a Republic Movie serial starring Ray Mala. It was the fourth of the sixty-six serials produced by Republic and the last to be released in 1936...
(1936) - Adventure's EndAdventure's End-Cast:* John Wayne - Duke Slade* Diana Gibson - Janet Drew* Montagu Love - Capt. Abner Drew* Moroni Olsen - First Mate Rand Husk* Maurice Black - Blackie* Paul White - Kalo* Cameron Hall - Slivers* Patrick J. Kelly - Matt* George Cleveland - Tom...
(1937) - The Lone RangerThe Lone Ranger (serial)The Lone Ranger is a 1938 American Republic Movie serial. It was the ninth of the sixty-six serials produced by Republic, the fourth western and the first of 1938...
(1938) - Queen of the YukonQueen of the YukonQueen Of The Yukon is a 1940 American western film. The film is an adaptation of Jack London's story. Filming took place in Big Bear Lake, California.-Plot:...
(1940) - Pioneers of the WestPioneers of the WestPioneers of the West is a 1940 American Western "Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by Lester Orlebeck.- Cast :* Robert Livingston as Stony Brooke* Raymond Hatton as Rusty Joslin* Duncan Renaldo as Renaldo* Noah Beery as Judge Platt...
(1940) - The SpoilersThe Spoilers (1942 film)The Spoilers is a 1942 film directed by Ray Enright. The movie is set in Nome, Alaska during the Nome Gold Rush, with Marlene Dietrich as Cherry Malotte, Randolph Scott as Alexander McNamara, and John Wayne as Roy Glennister, and culminates in a spectacular saloon fistfight between McNamara and...
(1942) - The Big StreetThe Big StreetThe Big Street is a 1942 American drama film, starring Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball, based on the short story "Little Pinks" by Damon Runyon, who also produced the movie. The film was directed by Irving Reis...
(1942) - Seven Miles from AlcatrazSeven Miles from AlcatrazSeven Miles from Alcatraz is a 1942 American action film directed by Edward Dmytryk.-Cast:* James Craig as Champ Larkin* Bonita Granville as Anne Porter* Frank Jenks as Jimbo* Cliff Edwards as Stormy* George Cleveland as Captain Porter...
(1942) - Song of the SarongSong of the SarongSong of the Sarong is a 1945 musical film starring Nancy Kelly and William Gargan. The film was written by Gene Lewis and directed by Harold Young.-Plot:...
(1945) - DakotaDakota (film)Dakota is a 1945 Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring John Wayne.-Cast:* John Wayne - John Devlin* Vera Ralston - Sandy Poli * Walter Brennan - Capt. Bounce of the Riverbird* Ward Bond - Jim Bender* Mike Mazurki - Bigtree Collins...
(1945) - Angel on My ShoulderAngel on My Shoulder (film)Angel on My Shoulder is a 1946 American fantasy film about a deal between the Devil and a dead man. It was an independent production, produced by Charles R. Rogers and David W. Siegel, directed by Archie Mayo, written by Harry Segall and Roland Kibbee, and released by United Artists...
(1946) - Little GiantLittle GiantLittle Giant is a 1946 film starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello released by Universal Pictures.-Plot:A naive country boy named Benny Miller , from Cucamonga, California, has been taking correspondence phonograph lessons in salesmanship...
(1946) - Carson CityCarson City (1952 film)Carson City is a 1952 western film starring Randolph Scott, Lucille Norman, Raymond Massey, and Richard Webb. Carson City was Warner Bros.' first film shot in WarnerColor.-Plot:...
(1952)