On the Other Grover Cleveland

Born of a September 17, Grover “George” Cleveland (1885-1957). Cleveland had nearly 200 screen credits, but (quite wonderfully) his biggest and best known role was his last one, the part of Gramps on the tv series Lassie (1954-57).

Originally from Nova Scotia, Cleveland started out in vaudeville and stock theatre productions. His debut was in a production of Boucicault’s The Octoroon. From 1910 to 1926 he was married to the much older stage and screen vet Victory Bateman.

Cleveland was already in his late ’40s by the time he started to get supporting parts in films in the early ’30s. Some of his more notable films included Flash Gordon (1936, the serial), Revolt of the Zombies (1936), The Plainsman (1936), Swing It Professor (1937), Rose of the Rio Grande (1938), The Ape (1940), A Girl A Guy and a Gob (1941), The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941), The Spoilers (1941), My Favorite Spy (1942), It’s in the Bag (1945), Little Giant (1946), The Show Off (1946), Mother Wore Tights (1947), The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap (1947), My Wild Irish Rose (1947), Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949), and Fireman, Save My Child (1954).

In 1954, Cleveland was cast as Gramps on Lassie, his last role, which he played until his death by heart attack three years later.

For more on vaudeville, where George Cleveland got his start,please consult No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous.