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
Burgess Meredith 1962, Meredith won a Best Supporting Actor award from the National Board of Review, for "Advise & Consent", and in 1985 he was nominated for a CableAce Award for his performance in "Answers". For his contributions to the motion picture industry, Meredith has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. For his onstage contributions, he was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame. Meredith has a 21-acre park named for him in Pomona, New York. He provided the funding to incorporate the village. On May 14, 1977 - Meredith received his honorary doctorate degree from Upper Iowa University