Trivia

His character, the Penguin, was so popular as a villain on the television series Batman (1966), the producers always had a Penguin script ready in case Meredith wanted to appear as a guest star.

Was fascinated by the subject of non-human intelligence, particularly dolphins. He once believed that a dolphin somehow called to him for help in the middle of the night while he was staying at a friend's home on the beach. He ran out and found the dolphin, caught in a net under a dock down the beach, although there was no way he should have been able to know it was there. He released it, saving its life. He believed it had made some sort of connection with him, perhaps telepathic, to call for help.

Relied on cue cards during the filming of Les grincheux 2 (1995), attributed to his being in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

Was offered the role of the Penguin's father in Batman : Le Défi (1992) (which eventually went to Paul Reubens), but could not film it because of his delicate health.

Served in the US Army Air Corps during World War II and held the rank of captain by 1945.

Despite his character dying in Rocky III : L'Œil du tigre (1982), he has appeared in every "Rocky" film, as either the real character, a flashback, or through archive footage.

Was the second choice for the role of the Penguin on Batman (1966). Producers had originally wanted Spencer Tracy in the role, but Tracy would not sign unless his character was allowed to kill Batman. Obviously, they did not want to kill the main character, so the role went to Meredith.

On the television series Batman (1966), he developed his grunting Penguin laugh out of necessity. Meredith had given up smoking some 20+ years earlier, but his character was required to smoke with a cigarette holder. The smoke would get caught in his throat and he would start coughing. Rather than constantly ruin takes in this matter, he developed the laugh to cover it up. "Actually, it was a pretty funny noise for a penguin to make," he once said. "I sounded more like a duck." He gave up smoking again immediately after the series ended.

Otto Preminger was instrumental in restoring his film career and they were also close friends.

French avant-garde composer Edgard Varèse, a friend, wrote "Dance for Burgess" for him in 1949.

Suffered from melanoma and other ailments, including Alzheimer's disease, at the time of his death.

After dropping out of Amherst College, he held down various jobs in journalism, retail, as a clerk, and as an editor. He also had a brief spell in the merchant marine and as a runner on Wall Street.

Had two children (with fourth wife Kaja Sundsten): Jonathon Meredith (musician) and Tala Meredith (painter).

His father was a doctor, and his mother a Methodist revivalist.

His father, William George Meredith, was Canadian, and was born in Toronto, Ontario. His mother, Ida Beth (Burgess), was from Ohio. She had Colonial American (English) ancestry, with deep roots in Connecticut.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6904 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on November 5, 1987.

Revealed in 1994 that he suffered from Cyclothymia, a form of Bipolar Disorder.

Was only 17 years older than Jack Lemmon when he played his father in Les grincheux (1993).

Was good friends with Adam West.

Was placed on the "Red Channel" list of the HUAC.

Died only one day after his La Quatrième Dimension (1983) co-star, Helen Shaw.

Nephew of comedian and character actor, Jay "Handsome Danny Mann" Burgess (1856-1937).

In the 1986 book "Son of Golden Turkey Awards" by Harry Medved and Michael Medved, he won the award for "The Most Embarrasing Nude Scene in Hollywood History" for Des amis comme les miens (1971).

Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 406-407. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.

Played the Devil in both Printer's Devil (1963) and Le jardin des tortures (1967).

Named Best Supporting Actor by the National Board of Review for his role in Tempête à Washington (1962). (1962)

An Advid equestrian, he won medals for horse riding but suffered numerous falls. When entering the steam room, his body was covered in bruises, which would not end his love of the sport.

In March 1937 industry trade papers announced that he would star in RKO's Pension d'artistes (1937), but he ultimately did not appear in it.

He was cremated at Bastian and Perrott, Oswald Mortuary in Los Angeles, California. His urn was given to his family afterwards.