Gary Merrill Biography

A rugged, craggy-faced, bushy-browed lead actor and character player, he began his stage career in 1937, which was interrupted by service in World War Two. He debuted onscreen in Winged Victory (1944), but did not begin regularly appearing in films until 1949; he was usually cast as grim, determined, humorless men in action features. From 1950-60 he was married to actress Bette Davis, with whom he appeared in three films. His many TV credits include a role in the series Young Dr. Kildare. He was politically active in liberal causes, and played a part in rejuvenating Maine's Democratic party; he also helped elect Edmund Muskie to governor of that state in 1953. In 1965 he took part in the Selma-Montgomery civil rights march. At odds with President Johnson's Vietnam policy, he switched parties and in 1968 tried unsuccessfully to win a Republican nomination to the Maine legislature as an anti-war, pro-environmentalist primary candidate. He authored an autobiography, Bette, Rita and the Rest of My Life (1989); "Rita" refers to actress Rita Hayworth, with whom he'd had a romantic affair. ~ Rovi

• 1. Margo Channing: You be host! It's your party: Happy birthday, welcome home. And we who are about to die salute you.
  2. Bill Sampson: Need any help?
  From All About Eve. Submitted by Mauricio R (57 days ago)

• 1. Bill Sampson: To give so much for almost always so little...
  2. Eve Harrington: So little? So little, did you say? Oh why, if there's nothing else, there's applause; I've listened backstage to people applaud. It's like... like waves of love coming over the footlights and wrapping you up. Imagine, to know every night different hundreds of people love you; they smile, their eyes shine, you please them, they want you, you belong. Just that alone is worth anything.
  From All About Eve. Submitted by Mauricio R (57 days ago)