George Murphy
A Hollywood song-and-dance man who traded tap shoes for the Senate floor, becoming the first major film star elected to high office.
1902–1992 (age 90)·American actor and politician·Birthday: July 4·The Greatest Generation
Biography
George Murphy's life played out in two distinct acts, both performed under bright lights. The first was on Broadway and in over forty Hollywood films, where his genial charm and smooth dancing made him a staple of MGM musicals like 'Broadway Melody of 1938.' Off-screen, he became a savvy political operator, serving as President of the Screen Actors Guild and using his influence to help found the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals. His second act began when he leveraged his fame and Republican connections to run for the U.S. Senate from California in 1964. Winning in the Reagan-led GOP wave, Murphy became the first professional actor elected to the Senate. His tenure was marked by strong support for the space program and the Vietnam War, but was ultimately cut short by health issues and a 1970 defeat. He blazed a trail that others, seeing politics as an extension of performance, would later follow to even greater heights.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
George was born in 1902, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When George Was Born
The biggest hits of 1902
George's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1902Born
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1907Started school
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1915Became a teenager
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Could drive
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1920Could vote
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1923Turned 21
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1932Turned 30
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1942Turned 40
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1952Turned 50
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1962Turned 60
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1972Turned 70
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 80
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Died at 90
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
Key Achievements
- Elected as a U.S. Senator from California in 1964, the first notable actor to win statewide office in the state.
- Served as President of the Screen Actors Guild from 1944 to 1946.
- Received an Honorary Academy Award in 1951 for his service to the film industry.
- Starred in major film musicals such as 'Little Miss Broadway' and 'For Me and My Gal.'
Did You Know?
He is the only U.S. Senator to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He was a vocal anti-communist and testified as a friendly witness before the House Un-American Activities Committee.
He lost his Senate seat in 1970 to Democrat John V. Tunney, father of fitness guru Heidi Klum's ex-husband.
Before acting, he worked as a miner, a real estate agent, and a nightclub dancer.
“I'd rather be a senator who used to be an actor than an actor who pretends to be a senator.”
