Iris Meredith
Encyclopedia
Iris Meredith was a B-movie
actress of the 1930s and 1940s film era. She starred mostly in heroine roles, in westerns.
Born as Marie Shunn, Meredith began her film career in the early 1930s, often starring in film serial
s while on contract with Columbia Pictures
. Her best-known roles were in the 1938 serial The Spider's Web, and in the 1939 serial Overland With Kit Carson. In 1940 she starred in the serial The Green Archer, as well as in several westerns opposite Charles Starrett
, Bill Elliott
, and Bob Allen
. Most of her films were with Starrett, from 1936 through 1940, most notably Riders of the Black River and Spoilers of the Range.
Her career slowed mid-way through the 1940s. In 1941 she starred in The Son of Davy Crockett with Bill Elliott, and Caught in the Act opposite Henry Armetta
. In 1942 she starred alongside Dave O'Brien
in The Texas Rangers Take Over. Her last credited role was the 1943 film The Kid Rides Again, in which she starred opposite Buster Crabbe
. She had one uncredited role afterward, in the 1951 film Chain of Circumstance.
She married television director Abby Berlin, and retired from acting shortly thereafter. In total, she starred in over 50 films, 32 of which were westerns.
, which claimed her life on January 22, 1980; she was 64 years old.
B-movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
actress of the 1930s and 1940s film era. She starred mostly in heroine roles, in westerns.
Born as Marie Shunn, Meredith began her film career in the early 1930s, often starring in film serial
Serial (film)
Serials, more specifically known as Movie serials, Film serials or Chapter plays, were short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a feature film. They were related to pulp magazine serialized fiction...
s while on contract with Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
. Her best-known roles were in the 1938 serial The Spider's Web, and in the 1939 serial Overland With Kit Carson. In 1940 she starred in the serial The Green Archer, as well as in several westerns opposite Charles Starrett
Charles Starrett
Charles Starrett was an American actor best known for his starring role in the Durango Kid Columbia Pictures western series. He was born in Athol, Massachusetts.-Career:...
, Bill Elliott
Wild Bill Elliott
Wild Bill Elliott was an American film actor. He specialized in playing the rugged heroes of B-Westerns, particularly in the Red Ryder series of films.-Early life:...
, and Bob Allen
Bob Allen
Bob Allen is a former American politician who was a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2000 until 2007, representing Florida's 32nd district...
. Most of her films were with Starrett, from 1936 through 1940, most notably Riders of the Black River and Spoilers of the Range.
Her career slowed mid-way through the 1940s. In 1941 she starred in The Son of Davy Crockett with Bill Elliott, and Caught in the Act opposite Henry Armetta
Henry Armetta
Henry Armetta was an Italian movie character actor who appeared in at least 150 films, starting in silents as early as 1915 to a movie released in 1946, after his death.-Biography:...
. In 1942 she starred alongside Dave O'Brien
Dave O'Brien (actor)
Dave O'Brien was an American film actor, director and writer. Born David Poole Fronabarger in Big Spring, Texas, O'Brien started his film career in bit parts before gradually winning larger roles, mostly in B pictures....
in The Texas Rangers Take Over. Her last credited role was the 1943 film The Kid Rides Again, in which she starred opposite Buster Crabbe
Buster Crabbe
Clarence Linden "Buster" Crabbe was an American athlete and actor, who starred in a number of popular serials in the 1930s and 1940s.-Birth:...
. She had one uncredited role afterward, in the 1951 film Chain of Circumstance.
She married television director Abby Berlin, and retired from acting shortly thereafter. In total, she starred in over 50 films, 32 of which were westerns.
Death
In later life, she was diagnosed with cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, which claimed her life on January 22, 1980; she was 64 years old.