George Lloyd Murphy (July 4, 1902 – May 3, 1992) was an American dancer, actor, and politician. Murphy was a song-and-dance leading man in many big-budget Hollywood musicals from 1930 to 1952. He was the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1944 to 1946, and was awarded an honorary Oscar in 1951. Murphy served from 1965 to 1971 as

U.S. Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...

from California, the first notable American actor to be elected to statewide office in California, predating

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...

and

Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian and American actor, film producer, businessman, retired professional bodybuilder and politician who served as the 38th governor of California between 2003 and 2011. ''Time'' ...

, who each served two terms as governor. He is the only United States Senator represented by a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...

Early life

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 Trinity-Pawling School, founded in 1907, is an independent college and preparatory boarding school for boys from 7th grade to 12th grade. The 230 acre campus is situated in Pawling, New York, a small hamlet in southern Dutchess County. It is lo ...

Peddie School The Peddie School is a college preparatory school in Hightstown, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is a non-denominational, coeducational boarding school located on a campus, and serves students in the ninth through twelfth gr ...

and Yale University in his native New Haven. He worked as a

tool maker Tool and die makers are highly skilled crafters working in the manufacturing industries. Variations on the name include tool maker, toolmaker, die maker, diemaker, mold maker, moldmaker or tool jig and die-maker depending on which area of concent ...

for the Ford Motor Company, as a miner, a real estate agent, and a night club dancer.

Film career

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). He made his movie debut shortly after talking pictures had replaced silent movies in 1930, and his career continued until he retired as an actor in 1952, at the age of 50. During World War II, he organized entertainment for American troops. In 1951, he was awarded an honorary Academy Award. He was never nominated for an Oscar in any competitive category. He was the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1944 to 1946. He was also a vice president of Desilu Productions and of the Technicolor Corporation. He was director of entertainment for presidential inaugurations in 1953, 1957 and 1961.

Political career

Murphy entered politics in 1952 by joining the leadership of the

California Republican Party The California Republican Party (CAGOP) is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in the U.S. state of California. The party is based in Sacramento and is led by chair Jessica Millan Patterson. As of October 2020, Republicans repre ...

, having also directed the entertainment for the Eisenhower- Nixon inauguration that same year. In 1964, he was elected as a Republican to the Senate, having defeated Pierre Salinger, the former presidential press secretary in the

Kennedy Kennedy may refer to: People * John F. Kennedy (1917–1963), 35th president of the United States * John Kennedy (Louisiana politician), (born 1951), US Senator from Louisiana * Kennedy (surname), a family name (including a list of persons with t ...

White House, who had been appointed several months earlier to serve the remainder of the late Clair Engle's unexpired term. Murphy served from January 1, 1965, to January 3, 1971. Murphy assumed his seat two days early, when Salinger resigned from the seat to allow Murphy to gain an edge in seniority. Murphy was then appointed by Democratic Governor Pat Brown to serve the remaining two days of Salinger's term. Murphy was in demand for a time to assist other Republican candidates seeking office. In 1966, he hosted a fundraising dinner in Atlanta, Georgia, for US Representative Howard "Bo" Callaway, the first Republican candidate for

Governor of Georgia The governor of Georgia is the head of government of Georgia and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor also has a duty to enforce state laws, the power to either veto or approve bills passed by the Georgia Legisl ...

since Reconstruction. In the election, Callaway outpolled Democrat Lester Maddox, but did not get a majority, and the state legislature elected Maddox. In 1967 and 1968, Murphy was the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. During his Senate term, Murphy developed throat cancer, and part of his

larynx The larynx (), commonly called the voice box, is an organ in the top of the neck involved in breathing, producing sound and protecting the trachea against food aspiration. The opening of larynx into pharynx known as the laryngeal inlet is about ...

had to be removed. For the rest of his life, he was unable to speak above a whisper. Murphy voted in favor of the

Voting Rights Act of 1965 The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. It was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson during the height of the civil rights movement ...

, as well as the confirmation of Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court, and the

Civil Rights Act of 1968 The Civil Rights Act of 1968 () is a landmark law in the United States signed into law by United States President Lyndon B. Johnson during the King assassination riots. Titles II through VII comprise the Indian Civil Rights Act, which applie ...

. In 1970, Murphy ran for re-election; he was challenged by Democratic US Representative

John V. Tunney John Varick Tunney (June 26, 1934 – January 12, 2018) was an American politician who served as a United States Senator and Representative from the state of California in the 1960s and 1970s. He was the son of boxing champion Gene Tunney. ...

, the son of famed heavyweight boxing champion Gene Tunney. Murphy's surgery and staunch support for the lingering Vietnam War worked against him, as did reports that he had continued to receive a salary from Technicolor after taking office. Tunney's successful Senate race in 1970 was reportedly the inspiration for the 1972 Robert Redford film '' The Candidate''.

Death

Murphy subsequently moved to

Palm Beach, Florida Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida. Located on a barrier island in east-central Palm Beach County, the town is separated from several nearby cities including West Palm Beach and Lake Worth Beach by the Intracoas ...

, where he died at the age of 89, from leukemia.

Legacy

Murphy's move from the screen to California politics paved the way for the successful transitions of actors such as

and later Arnold Schwarzenegger. Reagan once famously referred to George Murphy as his own " John the Baptist". Fellow Republicans praised Murphy's ability to speak at fundraising dinners and so consequently backed his bid to become the chairman of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee. During his tenure in the Senate, Murphy created the candy desk by placing a supply of confectionery on his desk on the U.S. Senate floor. After 1971, the candy-desk duties were bequeathed to a string of successors; since 2015, the keeper of the candy desk has been Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey. Murphy was the subject of a song by Tom Lehrer included on his album ''

That Was the Year That Was ''That Was the Year That Was'' (1965) is a live album recorded at the hungry i in San Francisco, containing performances by Tom Lehrer of satiric topical songs he originally wrote for the NBC television series ''That Was The Week That Was'', know ...

'' with the same name, which criticized Murphy's comments about Mexicans working in the US.

Personal life

Murphy was married to his ballroom dancing partner, Juliette "Julie" Henkel-Johnson, from December 18, 1926, until her death, in 1973. They had two children: Dennis Michael Murphy and Melissa Elaine Murphy. He was married to Bette Blandi from 1982 until his death in 1992; she died in 1999.

Radio

* ''

Suspense Suspense is a state of mental uncertainty, anxiety, being undecided, or being doubtful. In a dramatic work, suspense is the anticipation of the outcome of a plot or of the solution to an uncertainty, puzzle, or mystery, particularly as it aff ...

'' (episode "Death on Highway 99" 1945) * '' Lux Radio Theatre'' (episode '' Royal Wedding'' 1952)

Films

* ''

Kid Millions ''Kid Millions'' (1934) is an American musical film directed by Roy Del Ruth, produced by Samuel Goldwyn Productions, and starring Eddie Cantor. Its elaborate "Ice Cream Fantasy Finale" production number was filmed in three-strip Technicolor, one ...

'' (1934) as Jerry Lane * '' Jealousy'' (1934) as Larry O'Roarke * ''

I'll Love You Always ''I'll Love You Always'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by Leo Bulgakov and starring Nancy Carroll, George Murphy and Raymond Walburn.Nemcek p.200 Synopsis An engineer, married to an actress, pretends he is working on a job in Russia whe ...

'' (1935) as Carl Brent * '' After the Dance'' (1935) as Jerry Davis * '' The Public Menace'' (1935) as Edward Joseph 'Red' Foster * '' Woman Trap'' (1936) as Keat Shevlin * ''

Top of the Town ''Top of the Town'' was a 1950s radio programme, broadcast on the BBC Light Programme and hosted by Terry-Thomas. The pilot episode was broadcast on 5 June 1953 on the BBC Home Service; the first series started shortly afterwards, on 1 November ...

'' (1937) as Ted Lane * '' London by Night'' (1937) as Michael Denis * '' Broadway Melody of 1938'' (1937) as Sonny Ledford * '' The Women Men Marry'' (1937) as Bill Raeburn * ''

You're a Sweetheart ''You're a Sweetheart'' is a 1937 American musical film directed by David Butler and starring Alice Faye, George Murphy and Ken Murray. The film was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures who loaned Alice Faye from 20th Century Fox to he ...

'' (1937) as Hal Adams * '' Little Miss Broadway'' (1938) as Roger Wendling * ''

Letter of Introduction ''Letter of Introduction'' is a 1938 American comedy-drama film directed by John M. Stahl. In 1966, the film entered the public domain in the United States because the claimants did not renew its copyright registration in the 28th year after pu ...

'' (1938) as Barry Paige * ''

Hold That Co-ed ''Hold That Co-ed'' is a 1938 comedy film directed by George Marshall, starring John Barrymore, George Murphy and Marjorie Weaver. Plot summary Former star quarterback Rusty Stevens believes he is being hired to be prosperous Clayton Universit ...

'' (1938) as Rusty * ''

Risky Business ''Risky Business'' is a 1983 American teen comedy-drama film written and directed by Paul Brickman (in his directorial debut) and starring Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay. Best known as Cruise's breakout film, ''Risky Business'' was a critical ...

'' (1939) as Dan Clifford * '' Broadway Melody of 1940'' (1940) as King Shaw * '' Two Girls on Broadway'' (1940) as Eddie Kerns * ''

Public Deb No. 1 ''Public Deb No. 1'' (or ''Elsa Maxwell's Public Deb No. 1'') is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Gregory Ratoff and starring George Murphy, Brenda Joyce and Ralph Bellamy. Plot A socialite is introduced to communism by her butler. Partia ...

'' (1940) as Alan Blake * ''

Little Nellie Kelly ''Little Nellie Kelly'' is a 1940 American musical-comedy film based on the stage musical of the same title by George M. Cohan which was a hit on Broadway in 1922 and 1923. The film was written by Jack McGowan and directed by Norman Taurog. It ...

'' (1940) as Jerry Kelly * ''

A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob ''A Girl, a Guy and a Gob'' is a 1941 film produced by Harold Lloyd and starring George Murphy, Lucille Ball, and Edmond O'Brien. Plot summary When Stephen Herrick, a sedate, mild-mannered shipping magnate, loses his opera tickets, Mrs. Gran ...

'' (1941) as Coffee Cup * ''

Tom, Dick and Harry The phrase "Tom, Dick, and Harry" is a placeholder for unspecified people. The phrase most commonly occurs as "every Tom, Dick, and Harry", meaning ''everyone'', and "any Tom, Dick, or Harry", meaning ''anyone'', although ''Brewer's Dictionary of ...

'' (1941) as Tom * '' Ringside Maisie'' (1941) as Skeets Maguire * '' Rise and Shine'' (1941) as Mo McGonigle * '' The Mayor of 44th Street'' (1942) as Joe Jonathan * '' For Me and My Gal'' (1942) as Mo K. Metcalf * '' The Navy Comes Through'' (1942) as Lt. Thomas L. 'Tom' Sands * '' The Powers Girl'' (1943) as Jerry Hendricks * '' Bataan'' (1943) as Lieut. Steve Bentley * '' This Is the Army'' (1943) as Jerry Jones * '' Broadway Rhythm'' (1944) as Jonnie Demming * '' Show Business'' (1944) as George Doane * '' Step Lively'' (1944) as Gordon Miller * '' Having Wonderful Crime'' (1945) as Jake Justus * '' Up Goes Maisie'' (1946) as Joseph Morton * ''

The Arnelo Affair ''The Arnelo Affair'' is a 1947 American film noir starring John Hodiak, George Murphy, Frances Gifford, and Dean Stockwell, and co-written and directed by Arch Oboler. Plot A lawyer's wife, Anne Parkson (Frances Gifford) is bored and neglected. ...

'' (1947) as Theodore 'Ted' Parkson * '' Cynthia'' (1947) as Larry Bishop * '' Tenth Avenue Angel'' (1948) as Steve Abbutt * '' Big City'' (1948) as Patrick O'Donnell * '' Border Incident'' (1949) as Jack Bearnes * '' Battleground'' (1949) as'Pop' Stazak * '' No Questions Asked'' (1951) as Inspector Matt Duggan * ''

It's a Big Country ''It's a Big Country An American Anthology'' is a 1951 American anthology film consisting of eight segments by seven directors: Richard Thorpe, John Sturges, Charles Vidor, Don Weis, Clarence Brown, William A. Wellman and Don Hartman. Plot In ...

'' (1951) as Mr. Callaghan * ''

Talk About a Stranger ''Talk About a Stranger'' is a 1952 American film noir directed by David Bradley and starring George Murphy, Nancy Davis and Billy Gray. The motion picture was shot by noted cinematographer John Alton, A.S.C. and was based on Charlotte Armstron ...

'' (1952) as Robert Fontaine Sr. * ''

Walk East on Beacon ''Walk East on Beacon'' is a 1952 American film noir drama film directed by Alfred L. Werker and starring George Murphy, Finlay Currie, and Virginia Gilmore. It was released by Columbia Pictures. The screenplay was inspired by a May 1951 ''Reader ...

'' (1952) as Inspector James 'Jim' Belden * '' Deep in My Heart'' (1954) (scenes deleted)

References

External links

* *
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

from www.passportland.com , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Murphy, George 1902 births 1992 deaths 20th-century American dancers 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American politicians Academy Honorary Award recipients American actor-politicians American male dancers American male film actors American miners American people of Irish descent American tap dancers California Republicans Candidates in the 1970 United States elections Catholics from Connecticut Catholics from Florida Deaths from cancer in Florida Deaths from leukemia Florida Republicans Male actors from New Haven, Connecticut Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players Musicians from New Haven, Connecticut New Right (United States) Peddie School alumni People from Palm Beach, Florida Politicians from New Haven, Connecticut Presidents of the Screen Actors Guild Republican Party United States senators from California University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy alumni