Ray Milland (born Alfred Reginald Jones; 3 January 1907 10 March 1986) was a Welsh-American actor and film director. Their son, Daniel, appeared in several minor acting roles in the 1960s and died of an apparent suicide in March 1981, at the age of 41. "[42] Milland found the book unsettling and felt its subject matter, that of an alcoholic writer, to be challenging and alien to him. Milland was born Alfred Reginald Jones on 3 January, 1907 (1905 according to some sources) in the Welsh town of Neath, Glamorgan to Elizabeth Annie and Alfred Jones. His most prominent role during this period was in Payment Deferred (1932). Minnesota officer removes jar from raccoon's head. Ray Milland Shushes Soldier One entitled In 1975, Milland was the subject of an episode of the British biographical TV series Milland was married to Muriel Frances Weber from 30 September 1931 until his death on 10 March 1986.Milland became a naturalised American citizen in the 1940s.Do what you can with what you've got. Andras The Demon Of Rage, She died in early 2010 in a friend's guest house due to causes related to diabetes. [25] The couple had a son, Daniel, and adopted a daughter, Victoria. Victoria lived in 1962, at address, California. [59][49] He then did his third film with Allen, Sealed Verdict (1948), and a third with Farrow, Alias Nick Beal (1949), which Milland later said was his favourite film. Ray Milland to Star He worked as a civilian flight instructor for the Army, and toured with a United Service Organisation South Pacific troupe in 1944. When the film was premiered across Europe, Milland was sent to attend each opening. One scene called for him to lead a cavalry charge through a small village. The injury resulted in Milland losing a part of his thumb and severely damaging his tendons.[37]. How To Install Redbox App On Ps4, General Fund Milland remained with Paramount for almost 20 years, and as well as his Oscar-winning role in The Lost Weekend, he is remembered for the films The Major and the Minor (1942), The Big Clock (1948), and The Thief (1952), the last of which saw him nominated for his second Golden Globe Later, he was signed by Paramount Pictures, which cast him in lesser speaking roles. 7 February 2014 Reuters Victoria Nuland and Geoffrey Pyatt together toured the opposition camp in Kiev in December An apparently bugged phone conversation in which a senior US diplomat disparages. Milland found life in Britain difficult, receiving little regular work, although he finally found parts in two British films, This is the Life and Orders Is Orders (both 1933). Milland appeared in the all-star musical Star Spangled Rhythm (1943), in which he appeared as himself, singing "If Men Played Cards as Women Do," alongside Fred MacMurray, Franchot Tone, and Lynne Overman. Show more. Ray Milland: Rounding out his persona with a bit of curmudgeon A publicity gala, starring Ray Milland Today. As the Second World War continued, Milland found himself now appearing in more action-orientated pictures. He added Milland's two roomates, Jacqueline May and Valerie Hartnett, said he had difficulty holding a job. Milland died in his sleep on 10 March, 1986 in California, after suffering from cancer for many years. He found the experience extremely disturbing and left at three in the morning. Victoria Milland - Biographical Summaries of Notable People - MyHeritage Victoria Milland In Biographical Summaries of Notable People Save this record and choose the information you want to add to your family tree Save record Victoria Milland Save this record and choose the information you want to add to your family tree Save record All Rights Reserved. Scholarship Fund Midwest Weekend Getaways For Couples, Milland recalled how after returning from an emcee engagement in Peru, he found a book delivered to his home, with a note from Paramount's head of production Buddy DeSylva that read, "Read it. Explore. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban Pc Game Imp Glitch, She ended the struggle by her own hand in 2007 when she suffocated herself using a plastic bag and helium. The young Milland had a history of drug abuse. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Muriel Milland (102554639)? His contract was rewritten and he became Paramount's highest paid actor. Milland also appeared in Polly of the Circus with Clark Gable and Marion Davies; Were Not Dressing with Bing Crosby, Carole Lombard, Ethel Merman and a 6-foot bear that could roller skate; The Jungle Princess with Dorothy Lamour, and Gilded Lily with Fred MacMurray and Claudette Colbert. , After Jamaica Run (1953), Milland went to Columbia for Let's Do It Again (1953) with Jane Wyman. He was the devil in one movie and an 18th-Century English procurer in another. 2018 Islamic Center of Cleveland. Heroes Of Might And Magic 4 Play Online, She had studied at Vassar College where she was known for athletics and drama. New York Times (1923-Current file); New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]17 Jan 1947: 26. Sony Lbt V925 Hifi System, She died in early 2010 in a friends guest house due to causes related to diabetes. [44] Milland had already worked with both men, having starred in the comedy The Major and the Minor (1942), and he was excited by their involvement. [3], At a 1921 conference in Washington, D.C. she was honored for her part in the suffrage movement. Kanye Lyrical Genius, [3][4] In line with his instructions, no funeral was held. The second, The Thing with Two Heads, is considered a cult classic. When the studio chose Dorothy Lamour for the lead, Milland wrote in his autobiography that Lamour was confused to find that he was not to be her male lead and she requested Milland to be her co-star. Ray Milland had two children, Daniel (1941) and Victoria (1944). [1] When she was a young woman she was a concert soprano. Vida was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1888. Eric Szmanda Wife, The story of Milland, the drunken derelict, was picked up by some of the Hollywood trade papers. He was contacted by Joe Pasternak, who was looking for an 'English' actor for the lead in his new picture, Three Smart Girls (1936). He spent five months in the US attempting to find further acting work, but after little success, and a strained relationship with his father-in-law, he decided to head back to Britain, hoping that two years spent in Hollywood would lead to roles in British films. [43] The film was to be produced by Charles Brackett and directed by Billy Wilder; the pair were also collaborating to write the screenplay. A spokesman for Milland's 74-year-old actor-father said he would have no comment on his son's death. National Park Service: 'Never push a slower friend down' in a bear encounter, March 2 (UPI) -- The National Park Service offered some sage advice for park visitors who encounter bears: "Never push a slower friend down. When the United States entered World War II, Milland tried to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Forces, but was rejected because of his impaired left hand. [17] After hearing that club owner Bobby Page was financing a touring company, Milland approached him in hopes of work. Senior Coroner's Investigator John W. Finken said an autopsy Wednesday confirmed the death was a suicide. [84] He supported the Republican Party and publicly backed Thomas E. Dewey in the 1944 United States presidential election[85] One of Milland's two grandsons, Travis, now had his Oscar. Rood, W B. (1942) and subsequently Billy Wilder's directorial debut, The Major and the Minor (1942) opposite Ginger Rogers. How To Catch A Broadhead Skink, [63] For The Thief (1952), his role was without dialogue, and he was nominated for a second Golden Globe. He also turned in an appearance as a hand surgeon in the Night Gallery episode, "The Hand of Borgus Weems". After a while, Director Castleton Knight cast him in his first major role in The Flying Scotsman (1929). In 1978 Milland reprised his Role as Oliver Barrett lll in Olivers Story, also written by Erich Segal. Stichting Imas Foundation Annual Report, He replaced Alan Ladd in a Western with Barbara Stanwyck, California (1947), directed by John Farrow, which was a big hit.[56][57][58]. https://www.biographies.net/biography/victoria-milland/m/0hylf_s. You cannot merge a memorial into itself. [4], Milholland participated in the picketing of the White House during the first World War in support of women's suffrage. Below are five tragic cases of celebrity proving to be a fatal tonic in the lives of the children of the famous. His acting career apparently was at an end and his marriage in trouble. [citation needed]. Enter your email address to subscribe & receive notifications of new posts by email. He was given the role of second lead in a production of Sam Shipman and Max Marcin's The Woman in Room 13. As a youngster, Ray Milland was immersed in sports and began riding horses within his uncle's stable. Then with a look as cold as a Canadian nun, she said, "You'll go the that ceremony tonight if we have to put you in a straitjacket.". Ray Milland Hates Acting, But He Works Hard at It I could not abide being in the company of people who were drunk; they made me tense and very nervous. While in this first period working in the United States, Milland met Muriel Frances Weber, whom he always called "Mal", a student at the University of Southern California. The body will be cremated. Chupacabra Drink With Rum, [53] At MGM he was in Night Into Morning (1951) and then a comedy, Rhubarb (1951). [16] Believing that his acting was poor, and that he had won his film roles through his looks alone, Milland decided to gain some stage experience to improve his ability. See also. Then, at MGM, he was directed by George Cukor in A Life of Her Own (1950) alongside Lana Turner, replacing Wendell Corey, who had quit the film just three days into filming.[62]. [46] Milland lost eight pounds for the role and spoke with the book's author, Charles R. Jackson, to gain insight into the illness. The 25-year-old was found dead with a plastic bag covering his head. He described how he acquired his stage name this way: When I first arrived in Hollywood, they told me to get a new name. In 1944, Milland starred in the supernatural horror film, The Uninvited, which was notable for its serious treatment of ghosts and haunting main theme, and for making a star of Gail Russell. He was rumoured to have had a short affair with co-star Grace Kelly. An accomplished horseman, Milland insisted upon doing this scene himself. [36] As a contracted starring actor, Paramount had insisted he give up this hobby. He pleaded guilty in 1966 to a charge of heroin possession in Santa Barbara, Calif., and was arrested the same year in neighboring Ventura County for forging prescriptions to obtain narcotics. Hayworth, along with Betty Grable, were the top pinup girls of World War II, died in 1987 at 68 from Alzheimers disease. Milland died of lung cancer at the Torrance Memorial Medical Center in Torrance, California, on 10 March 1986. Forged By Fire Chapter 1 Summary, Please enter a valid Memorial ID. He left the army to pursue a career in acting and appeared as an extra in several British productions before getting his first major role in The Flying Scotsman (1929). Milland awoke in hospital, where he remained for a week with a badly damaged left hand, a three-inch gash to his head, and a concussion.[35]. Pop Song With Violin Intro, Along with her sister Inez, she was also a member of the College Equal Suffrage League of New York State. To become Birnam he had to reduce to 160 pounds, skeletonizing his 6-foot, 2-inch frame. The Cafe Racer Bible Pdf, Until The Lost Weekend, Milland had been perceived in Hollywood as a light leading man with a ready smile and an agreeable disposition. March 2 (UPI) -- A Maryland woman scored a $100,000 prize from a scratch-off lottery ticket less than 12 hours after she scored an $11,000 jackpot at a casino. Soon after that Paramount signed him to a seven-year contract at $175 a week. [1][2] His screen career ran from 1929 to 1985. Honda Elite Gy6 Swap, Last edited on 27 February 2023, at 00:44, Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor, National Board of Review Award for Best Actor, New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor, "Ray Milland Dies. In 1972, Milland starred in two horror films. While operating a circular saw, he slipped, catching one of his hands on the saw. New York Times 7 April 1944: 22. RAY MILLAND'S TV BOW LOOKS LIKE A BIG HIT: But, after he appeared in "Payment Deferred" in 1932, MGM dropped his option. Instead, he did a romantic comedy, The Well-Groomed Bride opposite Olivia de Havilland. Love Birds Movie 2017, How To Get A Doe Patronus On Pottermore, At Columbia, Milland starred opposite Rosalind Russell in A Woman of Distinction (1950). [37] Instead, Milland took up woodworking and outfitted a machine shop at the back of his newly built house. Andrew Embiricos, the grandson of Rita Hayworth was found dead in a case of apparent suicide. In the latter, he appeared twice as Jennifer Hart's father. Warzone Operator Skins, He continued as the lead man of Paramount till the early 1950s. Important information. Face it.'[4]. Clix Twitch Logo, How Do Platys Give Birth, Success in The Lost Weekend was a major coup for Milland, born Reginald Alfred Truscott-Jones on Jan. 3, 1908, near the town of Neath on the west coast of Wales. Range Rover Autobiography 22 Inch Wheels, I tell them, 'Because you still think of yourself as a leading man. Richie Tinker, the son of Mary Tyler Moore and producer Grant Tinker, had a troubled life, Moore told People in 1995. Watch Martha Marcy May Marlene 123movies, Alfred Jones -- Father. Shortly after that, Milland and his wife were reconciled. Is Steve Pomrenke Still Alive, These included Irene opposite Anna Neagle, The Doctor Takes a Wife opposite Loretta Young at Columbia, Arise, My Love opposite Claudette Colbert, and Untamed opposite Patricia Morison. At the time, he also worked at his uncle's horse-breeding estate and became an expert rider. Milland appeared in many other notable films, including Easy Living (1937), Beau Geste (1939), Billy Wilder's The Major and the Minor (1942), The Uninvited (1944), Fritz Lang's Ministry of Fear (1944), The Big Clock (1948) and The Thief (1952), for which he was nominated for his second Golden Globe. He also gained critical praise for the role of a father seeking to establish a relationship with his son in the movie 'Love Story. Paramount was filming the George Raft picture Bolero (released in February 1934), but an injury to another British actor had left the studio looking for an urgent replacement. This was followed by Skylark (1942) with Claudette Colbert, and two films with Paulette Goddard: The Lady Has Plans (1942) and Cecil B. DeMille's Reap the Wild Wind (1942) alongside John Wayne, in which he was top billed above Wayne. A take on Jesus Revolution from one who was there, defending Rowling and more, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan actor, dies after brain aneurysm, Daisy Jones & the Six becomes the first fictional band to hit No. Chopped Champions Winners List, March 3 (UPI) -- A sheep spotted wandering loose on a British highway was given a lift back to its owner by a concerned bus driver on her first day on the job. She had a history of not taking her insulin.. He also guest-starred on Bracken's World and The Name of the Game as well as in TV movies like Company of Killers (1970), River of Gold (1971) and Black Noon (1971). No suicide note was found. The elder Milland won an Academy Award for best actor for his portrayal of an alcoholic writer in the 1945 film 'Lost Weekend.' When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter . In this initial phase, he faced a lot of criticism for acting. http://www.moviepilot.de/files/images/0513/1328/RAY_MILLAND_cut.jpg. It was the beginning of a long relationship. It proved a fortuitous calamity because he stopped by the Paramount studios, where he was offered a two-week contract at $300 a week for a role in Bolero, where he substituted for another English actor who had been injured. Cross, Robert. The film's director Norman Taurog was so impressed, he rang the chief production executive and suggested that Milland be placed on a long-term contract. British bus driver stops to give loose sheep a lift. Thank you very much indeed. The story depicts the aftermath of a stagecoach robbery. I thought, Ill take that name: Mill Land. What Should You Do Immediately If A Boat Motor Catches Fire, Los Angeles Times 4 September 1959: 27. I got the job, he said. [25] They had one biological son and one adopted daughter. Movies. He never held long conversations with anyone, except perhaps with me, possibly because I was the only other male in our family. Please use the links below for donations: A frantic Mal Milland called her husband. Premature Burial (1962) and X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes (1963), by Roger Corman, in Frogs (1972), he played a man who is attacked by a plague of mutant frogs, The Thing with Two Heads (1972), he . He then portrayed Dr. Xavier in the well-received X: The Man with the X-ray Eyes (1963). [49], Milland was married to Muriel Frances Weber from 30 September 1932 until his death on 10 March 1986. After completing Bolero, Milland was offered a five-week guarantee by Benjamin Glazer to work on an upcoming screwball comedy starring Bing Crosby and Carole Lombard entitled We're Not Dressing (also 1934). When her sister died in 1916 she devoted her time to suffrage work; she went to prison for three days in 1917 where she sang each night for her fellow prisoners. In 1840 there was 1 Milland family living in Kentucky. Milland found the set work far more challenging, knowing that the close-ups would give his acting no place to hide. Milland made a second film for Farrow, The Big Clock (1948), which has become one of his most highly regarded films. College Student to be Ray Milland's Next Role Back at Paramount, Milland was reunited with Lamour in Her Jungle Love (1938) and Tropic Holiday (1938). [19] MGM offered Milland a nine-month contract at $175 a week, based in Hollywood. [11] Another said he was forced to drop out when his father refused to continue subsidising him. Toyota Coaster Km Per Litre, Hemingway, granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway, was at the height of celebrity in the 70s a supermodel partaking in New York Citys disco scene as the world bowed before her. Ray Milland, who said he was a screen star for years before he understood enough about acting to handle his Oscar-winning role as Hollywoods most memorable alcoholic, died Monday at Torrance Memorial Hospital where he was under treatment for cancer. [7] He also worked at his uncle's horse-breeding farm before leaving home at age 21. Reputedly made his British films under the name of Spike Milland. 'The roommates said he had been drinking heavily and was intoxicated when they last talked to him the night before,' Detective Lee Kingsford said. Nov 8, 2013 - Ray Milland and wife, Muriel (m. 1932-1986) Two children, one a son, Daniel; one a daughter, Victoria. His stellar performance won the confidence of director Norman Taurog and he was signed for seven years with Paramount Pictures. Sadly, hes not the first celeb offspring to meet such a fate. RAY MILLAND DIES; WON OSCAR FOR 'LOST WEEKEND': [OBITUARY] He spent his youth in the pursuit of sports. Ray Milland became one of Paramount's most bankable and durable stars, under contract from 1934 to 1948, yet little in his early life suggested a career as a motion picture actor. Then, in 1933, Roosevelt's reforms to the U.S. banking sector led to a temporary weakness in the dollar, allowing Milland to afford a return to the United States. When accepting the Best Actor Oscar for The Lost Weekend (1945) from Ingrid Bergman, gave one of the shorter speeches in Oscar history: "Thank you. Kentucky and 3 other states had the highest population of Milland families in 1840. Masters, Marcia. [4] Of his parents, he wrote in his 1974 autobiography: My father was not a cruel or harsh man. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963); Chicago, Ill. [Chicago, Ill] 13 September 1953: w_a6. In Hollywood, he met and married Mal Weber. At breakfast, I hesitantly told Mal [his wife] of my decision. as well as Richard Nixon in the 1968 presidential election.[86]. [6] In 1917 Milholland told stories of her imprisonment at the Ritz-Carlton alongside Dora Lewis and others. Thereafter, he starred in several pictures like California (1947), The Big Clock (1948), Alias Nick Beal (1949), A Life of Her Own (1950), etc. [5][6] He was schooled independently before attending the private King's College School in Cardiff. Escape Game 50 Rooms 1 Level 43, Benelli 14 Inch Shotgun, Dan Milland was born on March 6, 1940 in Los Angeles, California, USA as Daniel David Milland. [10] (According to one account, he was able to support himself with a $17,000 inheritance from his aunt. When she was a young woman she was a concert soprano. Los Angeles Times 10 March 1974: o24. . Ray Milland Biography. Billie Burke Net Worth, [2], National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vida_Milholland&oldid=1088519611, This page was last edited on 18 May 2022, at 14:15. Victoria, in full Alexandrina Victoria, (born May 24, 1819, Kensington Palace, London, Englanddied January 22, 1901, Osborne, near Cowes, Isle of Wight), queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1837-1901) and empress of India (1876-1901). [20] MGM used Milland as a 'stock' player, selecting him for small speaking parts in mainstream productions. He was battling HIV and had been in and out of drug rehab in addition to attempting suicide in the past, according to Village Voice gossip columnist Michael Musto. Choose an adventure below and discover your next favorite movie or TV show. He accepted, leaving the United Kingdom in August 1930. 111276. Personal life. Ray Milland was christened Reginald Alfred Truscott-Jones at birth on 3rd January 1905. The desperate producers approached the British War Office for a replacement. He had a supporting role, for instance, in the original The Glass Key (1935) with George Raft. Food Word Search, In 1966, Burt Bacharach wrote the song Nikki, for his daughter with wife Angie Dickinson. LOS ANGELES -- The only son of Oscar-winning actor Ray Milland committed suicide with a shotgun blast to his head in the latest violent death to strike the family of a Hollywood celebrity. Milland was in action filmsThe Big Game (1974), The Student Connection (1974), and Gold (1974), the last of which was opposite Roger Mooreand then did another TV horror film, The Dead Don't Die (1975). His last appearances were in The Sea Serpent (1985) and The Gold Key (1985). Ray was a talented boxer, fencer, horseman, and marksman. March 3 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts library said a book was recently returned with a note apologizing for the tome being 56 years overdue. At Fox, Milland starred in The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing (1955). 1 on iTunes Charts, 36 songs, no apologies: Morgan Wallen delivers more (much more) of what made him countrys king, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Hidden illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Best coffee city in the world? He guest-starred in two episodes of Columbo, as a grieving widower in "Death Lends a Hand" (1971) and as a suspect in "The Greenhouse Jungle" (1972). Ray Milland Signs For Hopkins Film See also Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro Getting Started | Contributor Zone Contribute to This Page Daniel Milland. He won the British Army Championship in both pistol and rifle marksmanship. He eventually returned to the US and took to menial jobs. Name note. Wolters, Larry. My only desire politically is to shoot a few of the politicians. Priscilla Presley Preps for a Fight Over Lisa Marie's Trust Which Puts Her at Odds With Granddaughter Riley Keough, Van Halen goes Gaga at New York club show, Clay Aiken disses Simon Cowell, prefers Donald Trump, Bonnie Raitt slips back with new Slipstream album, Lottie Moss Claims in a Bombshell Essay That She Has No Bond With Her Supermodel Sister Kate: I Dont Know Her, Jessica Albas Surprising Gothic Makeover for Paris Fashion Week Shows Shes Ready to Shake Up Her Usual Look. RAY MILLAND FINDS GRIEF AND FUN IN WAR Eventually, he moved on to acting and appeared as an extra in British films. Ray Milland with Daughter Victoria Milland Actor Ray Milland standing with daughter, Victoria at Academy Awards in Santa Monica, California in April 1962. Nikki was born prematurely, according to the independent newspaper, and was plagued by the developmental disorder Aspergers syndrome throughout her life. I do it because I can't make a living any other way. New York Times 6 February 1959: 51. Photos courtesy of RitaHayworth.com and WENN. He said the producers handed him a rifle and told him to fire into a chalk circle that had been drawn around a half-dollar. Buck And The Preacher Full Movie, Chicago Daily Tribune 15 November 1959: n_a2. The film was a big success and raised both to stardom. Now the stars walk around in supermarkets dressed in blue jeans. He branched into other areas, becoming a movie director, writing 24 short stories, most of them under pseudonyms, starring in the television series Markham in 1959 and Rich Man, Poor Man in 1976, when he was 68. He was loaned to Universal for the Deanna Durbin musical Three Smart Girls (1936), and its success had Milland given a lead role in The Jungle Princess (also 1936) alongside new starlet Dorothy Lamour. He was playing with one of his guns when it went off. Red Lobster Endless Shrimp 2020 Dates, Los Angeles Times 10 August 1957: B2. Milland explaining his philosophy on becoming a character actor towards the end of his career. He was the first Welsh actor to win an Oscar, and when he collected the award from Ingrid Bergman, he gave one of the shortest acceptance speeches of any Oscar winner. Will Dominion-Fox News lawsuit be different? You get up too early and you finish too late and you feel like a lackey."[72]. His parents, Alfred and Elizabeth Annie Jones gave birth to him in the town of Neath in the Welsh heartland of Glamorgan. Within eight months of first meeting, the two were married. February 22, 2023 . Feeling Her Up In The Car, Mouse Poop Vs Roach Poop, The year finished with the news that Muriel was pregnant with their son Daniel. Ray Milland with Daughter Victoria Milland Posing, Santa Monica, USA. Victoria Francesca Milland. Milland guest-starred on several Aaron Spelling-produced shows, such as Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Charlie's Angels and Hart to Hart. As part of his training, he became skilled in fencing, boxing, horsemanship and marksmanship. March 3 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Britain responded to a home to rescue a horse that had fallen into its owner's swimming pool and was unable to get itself out. SheKnows is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Florida woman runs ultra-marathon distances for 23 consecutive days. On his return from his successful Shell interview, he passed by the gates of Paramount Pictures, where he was approached by casting director Joe Egli. "[72], From 1958 to 1960, Milland starred in the CBS detective series, Markham, originally called Crisis. Kid Screaming Meme Music, And Milland, as he later wrote in Wide-Eyed in Babylon, published in 1974, called Paramount Studios, which squelched the rumors. . An autopsy disclosed Richard Carlton Meeker Jr., 24, died Oct. 14 when he somehow triggered his sawed-off shotgun while talking to his roommate. In Britain, he appeared in two unimportant films, This is the Life and Orders is Orders (1934), but failed to find regular work.