Ralph Meeker Dies at 67; Launched by ‘Picnic’ Role

Character actor Ralph Meeker, 67, who was popular in the role of the swaggering woman-chaser in the stage version of “Picnic” and who was also famous for his portrayal of detective Mike Hammer in the 1955 film “Kiss Me Deadly,” died today of a heart attack at the Motion Picture and Television Hospital.

Meeker was stricken early in the day at the hospital, where he had been a patient since September, said Jean Ferris, a hospital spokeswoman.

Meeker, born Ralph Rathgeber, made his film debut in 1951 in “Teresa” and became known for his roles in action and adventure films in the early 1950s.

Among his early credits are “Four in a Jeep,” “Shadow in the Sky,” “The Naked Spur,” “Jeopardy,” “Code Two” and “Desert Sands.”

After playing the Hammer role in “Kiss Me Deadly,” Meeker took on supporting roles in “Paths of Glory,” “The Dirty Dozen,” “The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre,” “Gentle Giant” and “The Detective.”

He had begun on Broadway in 1945 after studying at Northwestern University and was seen in “Strange Fruit,” “Cyrano de Bergerac” and “Mister Roberts.” He took over Marlon Brando’s role as Stanley Kowalski in “A Streetcar Named Desire” before being cast as Hal Carter in William Inge’s “Picnic.”

Meeker is survived by his wife, Millie.