Una Merkel

Biography

Una Merkel was an American actress of stage, film, radio, and television who began her career on the New York stage in the 1920s and went to Hollywood in 1930. D. W. Griffith brought her there to play Ann Rutledge in Abraham Lincoln (1930), and she was a popular second lead through the 1930s as the heroine's wisecracking best friend. Under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer from 1932 to 1938, she played Sam Spade's secretary in The Maltese Falcon (1931). Her best-known roles include the streetwise show girl of 42nd Street (1933) and Lily Belle in Destry Rides Again (1939). After her film career declined in the 1940s, she worked in radio, then returned to play mothers and maiden aunts. She won a Tony Award in 1956 for The Ponder Heart, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Summer and Smoke (1961), and appeared in The Parent Trap (1961). Her last film was Spinout (1966), opposite Elvis Presley.

82years old at death

Born December 10, 1903Covington
Died January 2, 1986Los Angeles
Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21

Movie Career

Films: 24
Career span: 36 years1930 to 1966

Genres

Comedy67%, 16 films
Drama42%, 10 films
Romance42%, 10 films
Musical25%, 6 films
Crime17%, 4 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Big break
Director D. W. Griffith brought Merkel to Hollywood to play Ann Rutledge in his 1930 film Abraham Lincoln, and that part turned her into a big success in sound films.

Una Merkel movies on Netflix

Spinout1966IMDb rating 5.8as Violet Ranley
Summer Magic1963IMDb rating 6.9as Mariah Popham
Summer and Smoke1961IMDb rating 6.8as Mrs. Winemiller
The Parent Trap1961IMDb rating 7.2as Verbena
Bundle of Joy1956IMDb rating 6.0as Mrs. Dugan
The Kentuckian1955IMDb rating 6.2as Sophie Wakefield
I Love Melvin1953IMDb rating 6.6as Mom Schneider
This Is the Army1943IMDb rating 5.8as Rose Dibble
Road to Zanzibar1941IMDb rating 6.7as Julia Quimby
Destry Rides Again1939IMDb rating 7.6as Lily Belle
On Borrowed Time1939IMDb rating 7.7as Marcia Giles
Saratoga1937IMDb rating 6.5as Fritzi
True Confession1937IMDb rating 6.6as Daisy McClure
Born to Dance1936IMDb rating 6.7as Jenny Saks
Broadway Melody of 19361935IMDb rating 6.7as Kitty Corbett
Evelyn Prentice1934IMDb rating 6.9as Amy Drexel
The Cat's-Paw1934IMDb rating 6.7as Petunia Pratt / Cobb
The Merry Widow1934IMDb rating 7.1as Queen Dolores
42nd Street1933IMDb rating 7.3as Lorraine Fleming
Midnight Mary1933IMDb rating 7.0as Bunny
Red-Headed Woman1932IMDb rating 7.0as Sally
The Maltese Falcon1931IMDb rating 6.8as Effie Perrine
Abraham Lincoln1930IMDb rating 5.7as Ann Rutledge
The Bat Whispers1930IMDb rating 6.3as Dale Van Gorder

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

The Parent Trap1961 Comedy, Family, Romanceas Verbena
IMDb rating 7.227K votes
42nd Street1933 Comedy, Drama, Musicalas Lorraine Fleming
IMDb rating 7.314K votes
The Merry Widow1934as Queen Dolores
IMDb rating 7.13.6K votes
The Maltese Falcon1931as Effie Perrine
IMDb rating 6.83.6K votes
Road to Zanzibar1941as Julia Quimby
IMDb rating 6.73.6K votes
Abraham Lincoln1930as Ann Rutledge
IMDb rating 5.71.9K votes
Destry Rides Again1939as Lily Belle
IMDb rating 7.614K votes
Red-Headed Woman1932as Sally
IMDb rating 7.04.0K votes

Most often with

Roy Del Ruth directed three of these films, Jack Conway two and Norman Taurog two. Frances Langford appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Frances Langford

James Stewart

John McIntire

Lionel Barrymore

Debbie Reynolds

Allen JenkinsRoy Del RuthDirector, 3 films Jack ConwayDirector, 2 films Norman TaurogDirector, 2 films

Films together

Frances Langford3 films together, 1935 to 1943
Frances Langford's page
- This Is the Army1943IMDb rating 5.8Merkel as Rose DibbleLangford as Herself
- Born to Dance1936IMDb rating 6.7Merkel as Jenny SaksLangford as 'Peppy' Turner
- Broadway Melody of 19361935IMDb rating 6.7Merkel as Kitty CorbettLangford as Frances Langford
James Stewart2 films together, 1936 to 1939
James Stewart's page
- Destry Rides Again1939IMDb rating 7.6Merkel as Lily BelleStewart as Tom Destry Jr.
- Born to Dance1936IMDb rating 6.7Merkel as Jenny SaksStewart as Ted Barker
John McIntire2 films together, 1955 to 1961
John McIntire's page
- Summer and Smoke1961IMDb rating 6.8Merkel as Mrs. WinemillerMcIntire as Dr. Buchanan
- The Kentuckian1955IMDb rating 6.2Merkel as Sophie WakefieldMcIntire as Zack Wakefield
Lionel Barrymore2 films together, 1937 to 1939
Lionel Barrymore's page
- On Borrowed Time1939IMDb rating 7.7Merkel as Marcia GilesBarrymore as Julian Northrup - Gramps
- Saratoga1937IMDb rating 6.5Merkel as FritziBarrymore as Grandpa Clayton
Debbie Reynolds2 films together, 1953 to 1956
Debbie Reynolds's page
- Bundle of Joy1956IMDb rating 6.0Merkel as Mrs. DuganReynolds as Polly Parish
- I Love Melvin1953IMDb rating 6.6Merkel as Mom SchneiderReynolds as Judy Schneider…
Allen Jenkins2 films together, 1933 to 1939
Allen Jenkins's page
- Destry Rides Again1939IMDb rating 7.6Merkel as Lily BelleJenkins as Gyp Watson
- 42nd Street1933IMDb rating 7.3Merkel as Lorraine FlemingJenkins as Mac Elroy
Roy Del RuthDirector, 3 films, 1931 to 1936
All films by Roy Del Ruth
- Born to Dance1936IMDb rating 6.7Merkel as Jenny Saks
- Broadway Melody of 19361935IMDb rating 6.7Merkel as Kitty Corbett
- The Maltese Falcon1931IMDb rating 6.8Merkel as Effie Perrine
Jack ConwayDirector, 2 films, 1932 to 1937
All films by Jack Conway
- Saratoga1937IMDb rating 6.5Merkel as Fritzi
- Red-Headed Woman1932IMDb rating 7.0Merkel as Sally
Norman TaurogDirector, 2 films, 1956 to 1966
All films by Norman Taurog
- Spinout1966IMDb rating 5.8Merkel as Violet Ranley
- Bundle of Joy1956IMDb rating 6.0Merkel as Mrs. Dugan
Also two films together22 more actors
- Edward BrophyBundle of Joy (1956) and Evelyn Prentice (1934)
- John GeorgeRoad to Zanzibar (1941) and The Cat's-Paw (1934)
- Robert TaylorI Love Melvin (1953) and Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
- Grant MitchellOn Borrowed Time (1939) and The Cat's-Paw (1934)
- Frank ConroyEvelyn Prentice (1934) and Midnight Mary (1933)
- Hattie McDanielSaratoga (1937) and True Confession (1937)
- Hayley MillsSummer Magic (1963) and The Parent Trap (1961)
- Henry ArmettaThe Merry Widow (1934) and Red-Headed Woman (1932)
- Nat PendletonOn Borrowed Time (1939) and The Cat's-Paw (1934)
- Jean HarlowSaratoga (1937) and Red-Headed Woman (1932)
- Warren HymerDestry Rides Again (1939) and Midnight Mary (1933)
- Buddy EbsenBorn to Dance (1936) and Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
- Ricardo CortezMidnight Mary (1933) and The Maltese Falcon (1931)
- George BarbierThe Cat's-Paw (1934) and The Merry Widow (1934)
- Alan DinehartBorn to Dance (1936) and The Cat's-Paw (1934)
- Chester MorrisRed-Headed Woman (1932) and The Bat Whispers (1930)
- Dickie JonesDestry Rides Again (1939) and On Borrowed Time (1939)
- Bebe Daniels42nd Street (1933) and The Maltese Falcon (1931)
- Deborah WalleySpinout (1966) and Summer Magic (1963)
- Eleanor PowellBorn to Dance (1936) and Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
- Toby WingTrue Confession (1937) and 42nd Street (1933)
- Sid SilversBorn to Dance (1936) and Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.