George Murphy

American actor and politician (1902–1992)

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George Murphy

Overview

Born / Died

July 4, 1902 – May 3, 1992

Role

American actor and politician (1902–1992)

Achievement

He was the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1944 to 1946, and was awarded an honorary Oscar in 1951.

Legacy

Murphy was a song-and-dance leading man in many big-budget Hollywood musicals from 1930 to 1952.

Career

Murphy served from 1965 to 1971 as U.S. Senator from California, the first notable American actor to be elected to statewide office in California, predating Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who each served two terms as governor.

Career

He is the only United States senator represented by a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Who was George Murphy?

George Murphy lived from July 4, 1902 to May 3, 1992. Murphy was born in New Haven, Connecticut, of Irish Catholic extraction, the son of Michael Charles "Mike" Murphy, athletic trainer and coach, and the former Nora Long. He was educated at Trinity-Pawling School, Peddie School and Yale University in his native New Haven. George Lloyd Murphy (July 4, 1902 – May 3, 1992) was an American actor and politician. He was the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1944 to 1946, and was awarded an honorary Oscar in 1951. In movies, Murphy was known as a song-and-dance man and appeared in many big-budget musicals such as Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937), Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940) and For Me and My Gal (1942).

George Murphy as an actor c. 1930s.
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Historical significance

Murphy was a song-and-dance leading man in many big-budget Hollywood musicals from 1930 to 1952. Senator from California, the first notable American actor to be elected to statewide office in California, predating Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who each served two terms as governor. He is the only United States senator represented by a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Murphy while serving as U.S. Senator.
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