
George Murphy
Known for Acting · 63 credits
- Born
- 1902-07-04
- Died
- 1992-05-03
- Place of birth
- New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Also known as
- George Lloyd Murphy
Biography
George Murphy was an American dancer and stage, screen, and television actor, as well as a United States Senator. 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 from California, the first notable U.S. actor to be elected to statewide office in California, predating Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is the only United States Senator represented by a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In movies, Murphy was known as a song-and-dance man and appeared in many big-budget musicals such as Broadway Melody of 1938, Broadway Melody of 1940 and For Me and My Gal. 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.
Known For
TV Shows (4)
Movies (59)

Show Business
1944
as George Doane

That's Entertainment!
1974
as (archive footage) (uncredited)

Ringside Maisie
1941
as Francis X. 'Skeets' / 'Skeeter' Maguire

They Died with Their Boots On
1941
as Cavalryman (uncredited)

Woman Trap
1936
as Keat Shevlin

That's Entertainment! III
1994
as (archive footage)

Twenty Years After
1944
as (archive footage)

Battleground
1949
as 'Pop' Stazak

This Is the Army
1943
as Jerry Jones

That's Dancing!
1985
as From 'Broadway Rhythm' (archive footage)

Letter of Introduction
1938
as Barry Paige

Step Lively
1944
as Gordon Miller

Broadway Melody of 1938
1937
as Sonny Ledford

Broadway Melody of 1940
1940
as King Shaw

Frank Capra's American Dream
1997
as Self (archive footage)

Tom, Dick and Harry
1941
as Tom

It's a Big Country
1951
as Mr. Patrick Callaghan

London by Night
1937
as Michael Denis

Bataan
1943
as Lt. Steve Bentley
The Hoaxters
1952
as Narrator (voice)

Little Miss Broadway
1938
as Roger Wendling

The Navy Comes Through
1942
as Lt. Thomas L. 'Tom' Sands

Kid Millions
1934
as Jerry Lane

Risky Business
1939
as Dan Clifford

For Me and My Gal
1942
as Jimmy K. Metcalf

Show-Business at War
1943
as Self

Broadway Rhythm
1944
as Johnny Demming

The Powers Girl
1943
as Jerry Hendricks

No Questions Asked
1951
as Police Insp. Matt Duggan

Two Girls on Broadway
1940
as Eddie Kerns

Talk About a Stranger
1952
as Robert Fontaine Sr.

Tenth Avenue Angel
1948
as Steve Abbutt

Rise and Shine
1941
as Jimmy McGonagle

Walk East on Beacon
1952
as Inspector James 'Jim' Belden

I'll Love You Always
1935
as Carl Brent

The Mayor of 44th Street
1942
as Joe Jonathan

A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob
1941
as Claudius "Coffee Cup" Cup

The Arnelo Affair
1947
as Theodore 'Ted' Parkson

Public Deb No. 1
1940
as Alan Blake

Hollywood Hobbies
1939
as Self (uncredited)

A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound
1940
as Self

Up Goes Maisie
1946
as Joseph Morton

Border Incident
1949
as Jack Bearnes

The Women Men Marry
1937
as Bill Raeburn

Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)
1936
as Self

Big City
1948
as Patrick O'Donnell

Hold That Co-ed
1938
as Rusty Stevens

The Public Menace
1935
as Edward Joseph "Red" Foster

Little Nellie Kelly
1940
as Jerry Kelly

Top of the Town
1937
as Ted Lane
Violets in Spring
1936
as Charlie Hall

After the Dance
1935
as Jerry Davis

You're a Sweetheart
1937
as Hal Adams

Cynthia
1947
as Larry Bishop

Having Wonderful Crime
1945
as Jake Justus
Cole Porter in Hollywood: Begin the Beguine
2003

Jealousy
1934
as Larry O'Roarke

Rhumba Rhythm at the Hollywood La Conga
1939
as Himself (uncredited)
1955 Motion Picture Theatre Celebration
1955
About George Murphy
George Murphy was an American dancer and stage, screen, and television actor, as well as a United States Senator. 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 from California, the first notable U.S. actor to be elected to statewide office in California, predating Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is the only United States Senat… With 63 credits spanning from 1934 to 2003, George Murphy has appeared in 59 films and 4 TV shows.
Fans searching for George Murphy movies, George Murphy filmography, or the latest projects starring George Murphy can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular George Murphy Movies
- Show Business (1944) — as George Doane
- That's Entertainment! (1974) — as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Ringside Maisie (1941) — as Francis X. 'Skeets' / 'Skeeter' Maguire
- They Died with Their Boots On (1941) — as Cavalryman (uncredited)
- Woman Trap (1936) — as Keat Shevlin
Where to Watch George Murphy Films
Most George Murphy movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring George Murphy, check our movies catalogue and browse page.



