Burgess Meredith the Penguin's father in the 1992 Tim Burton film "Batman Returns", but illness prevented him from appearing and the role was taken by Paul Reubens. Meredith was married four times. His first wife, Helen Derby Merrien Burgess, was the daughter of Harry L. Derby, president of the American Cyanamid and Chemical Corporation; she took her life after their divorce. His next two wives were actresses, Margaret Perry and Paulette Goddard. Goddard had a miscarriage in 1944. His last marriage, to Kaja Sundsten, lasted 46 years and produced two children—Jonathon (a musician) and Tala (a painter). Meredith was a lifelong Democrat
Meredith Strang Burgess Meredith Strang Burgess Meredith Strang Burgess (born April 27, 1956) is an American politician from Maine. A Republican, Strang Burgess served three terms (2006-2012) in the Maine House of Representatives, representing the town of Cumberland. Strang Burgess was a co-sponsor of the successful 2009 same-sex marriage bill. The bill was repealed via people's veto in November of that year. Three years later, in 2012, Strang Burgess was one of three sitting Republican state legislators to support the successful state referendum legalizing same sex marriage. In December 2013, Strang Burgess was rumored to be a potential candidate for U.S. Congress.<ref name="Strimling/Harriman"></ref>