| Birth: | Mar. 16, 1903
Los Angeles
Los Angeles County
California, USA | | Death: | Apr. 26, 1981
Burbank
Los Angeles County
California, USA | 
William Meiklejohn was a talent agent known as 'The Starmaker'. He is credited as the man who discovered Ronald Reagan, he also represented such stars as Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, William Holden, Lucille Ball, Alan Ladd, Hattie McDaniel's and Dorothy Parker, along with many others. In 1940 MCA bought out his agency and made him Vice-president in charge of setting up their motion picture division, within a year Paramount Studios offered him the job of Head of Talent and Casting, where he worked with stars such as Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Audrey Hepburn, Gloria Swanson, Elvis and Marilyn Monroe. During the Second World War he produced several short films for the Office of War Information, one was 'Back to School' which starred Bing Crosby.
On retiring from Paramount he again set up his own agency and among his first signings were Nat King Cole, Pat O'Brien and once again his former client Ronald Reagan.
There is a 'Star' on the Hollywood Walk of Fame dedicated to William, his brother Campbell, former manager of Grauman's Egyptian Theatre and his sister Jean who ran the Meiklejohn & Dunn Theatrical Agency in Los Angeles along with another brother Matthew.
Family links:
Parents:
Matthew Caldwell Meiklejohn (1864 - 1941)
Martha Campbell Meiklejohn (1870 - 1937)
Spouse:
Charlotte Jeter Meiklejohn (1901 - 1971)
| | | Burial:
Grand View Memorial Park
Glendale
Los Angeles County
California, USA
Plot: West Mausoleum, Section 252, Crypt C |
Created by: Marilyn Meiklejohn Bower...
Record added: Aug 06, 2009
Find A Grave Memorial# 40355407 |
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