George Cleveland

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George Cleveland
Cleveland in Lassie (1954)
Born
Grover Alan Cleveland

(1885-09-17)September 17, 1885
Sydney, Nova Scotia
DiedJuly 15, 1957(1957-07-15) (aged 71)
Burbank, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1930–1957
Spouses
  • Helen Cleveland
    (m. 1905; ? 190?)
​
​
(m. 1910; died 1926)​
    Dorothy Melleck
    ​
    (m. 1955)​

    Grover Alan "George" Cleveland (September 17, 1885 – July 15, 1957) was a Canadian film actor.[1] He appeared in more than 180 films from 1930 to 1954.[2]

    Career

    Cleveland was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.[3] His first appearance on the stage was in The Octaroon as a teenager[4] in 1899.[5] Cleveland was active as a vaudevillian before moving to Hollywood in 1936 where he worked in films via acting, producing and directing.[6]

    From 1904 to 1906, Cleveland toured the world with a repertory company headed by T. Daniel Frawley. He later toured major cities in the United States performing in a repertoire of seven plays by Shakespeare.[5]

    Cleveland's work on stage included performing with the Mary Daniel Players in Port Richmond, Staten Island, New York, and the Cloninger Company in Salt Lake City, Utah.[7]

    Although Cleveland played in more than 150 films during his 58-year career in show business, he acknowledged that he was most well-known for his role as George "Gramps" Miller in the early years of the long running American television series Lassie.[3][4] 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.[8]

    Death

    Cleveland died of a heart attack on July 15, 1957, in Burbank, California, at age 71.[3][6] He was survived by his spouse Dorothy Melleck, whom he married as a widower in 1955.[9] Cleveland was previously married to Victory Bateman (20 years his senior), from 1910 to 1926, whom he had met while both actors were touring in Vaudeville.[10][11]

    Selected filmography

    References

    1. Wilson, Scott (September 16, 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. ISBN 9781476625997.
    2. Rowan, Terry (2015). Who's Who In Hollywood!. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781329074491.
    3. Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 41. ISBN 9780786409839. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
    4. "George Cleveland, "Gramps" of Lassie TV Series, Is Dead". The Journal. Meridian, CT. Associated Press. July 16, 1957. p. 7.
    5. "TV Portraits: George Cleveland". The Times-Mail. Indiana, Bedford. September 11, 1954. p. 14. Retrieved June 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
    6. "George Cleveland, 'Gramps' Of Lassie Show, Dead at 71". Anderson Daily Bulletin. Indiana, Anderson. International News Service. July 16, 1957. p. 14. Retrieved November 17, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
    7. "George Cleveland Still Going Strong". The Salt Lake Tribune. May 15, 1927. p. 10. Retrieved June 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
    8. Hopper, Hedda (November 30, 1957). "Hollywood". Hartford Courant. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
    9. "George Cleveland, TV Actor, Succumbs". Reading Eagle. July 16, 1957. p. 8. Retrieved May 29, 2016 – via Google News Archive.
    10. "'As the sun went down' will appear". Ogden Examiner. May 1, 1910. p. 1.
    11. "Bateman-Cleveland marriage record". Aimesley Jordan Genealogy Detective. July 18, 2009.