Cheerio Meredith

Cheerio Meredith (July 12, 1890 – December 25, 1964) was an American character actress. She was described in a 1963 newspaper article as having "a face like a wrinkled rosebud."[1]

Cheerio Meredith
Cheerio Meredith c. 1960
Born
Edwina Lucille Hoffmann

July 12, 1890
Missouri, US
DiedDecember 25, 1964(1964-12-25) (aged 74)
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationCharacter actress
Years active1944–1964
Spouse(s)Conde Thompson Mosley
(m. 1910 – 1949, his death)
Chester Morrison
(m. ? – 1964, her death)
Children4 with Mosley

Early life

Meredith was born in 1890;[2] her mother was an elocutionist in the Chautauqua movement, and one of her grandmothers was an evangelist. Meredith made her own debut on stage with a monologue at age 3. The name Cheerio resulted from her cheerful attitude as a child.[1]

As a teenager, Meredith sought to play older characters. At age 15, she asked a producer to give her the part of an old woman, and he made her a witch in the play.[3]

Film and television

Films in which Meredith appeared included Brand of Courage (1958), The Long Count (1962),[4] The Fat Man (1951), I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955), I Married a Woman (1958), The Legend of Tom Dooley (1958), The Three Stooges in Orbit (1962), and The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962).[2]

On television, Meredith portrayed Lovey Hackett on One Happy Family (1961).[5] She also was seen regularly on The Ames Brothers Show (1955) and had the role of Emma Brand (later Emma Watson) on The Andy Griffith Show.[2] Mary Lou Gedman wrote about Meredith's role on the Griffith show, "During her two-year stint on the show, she only appeared in six episodes but somehow, to the American people, she made a lasting impression."[6] She also had roles in other programs such as December Bride and Bonanza.[7]

Personal life and death

Meredith was twice married and had four children, three of whom acted on Broadway before going into other careers. The fourth became a producer of plays.[1]

In December 1964, "after a long illness", Meredith died at the Motion Picture Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.[8] She was 74 years old.[8]

References
  1. Schroeder, Mildred. "A Trouper Who Loves Every Little Wrinkle". The San Francisco Examiner. California, San Francisco. p. 27. Retrieved December 20, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. Robinson, Dale; Fernandes, David (2012). The Definitive Andy Griffith Show Reference: Episode-by-Episode, with Cast and Production Biographies and a Guide to Collectibles. McFarland. ISBN 9781476601878. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  3. "Cheerio Meredith Teenager at 70". Arizona Republic. Arizona, Phoenix. United Press International. December 24, 1960. p. 30. Retrieved December 20, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Cheerio Meredith". BFI Film Forever. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  5. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 789. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  6. Gediman, Mary Lou (2009). Journeywoman. Brandylane Publishers Inc. p. 3. ISBN 9781883911959. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  7. "Deaths" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 4, 1965. p. 57. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  8. "Last Rites for Actress Cheerio Meredith Set". Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. December 27, 1964. p. C 9. Retrieved December 20, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
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