
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 6, 1990                   TAG: 9003062007
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: FALMOUTH, MAINE                                 LENGTH: Short

ACTOR GARY MERRILL DIES OF CANCER

Actor Gary Merrill, known for his supporting roles in the movies "Twelve O'Clock High" and "All About Eve" and for his stormy marriage to actress Bette Davis, died Monday of cancer. He was 74.

Merrill, who moved to Maine in the mid-1970s and spent most of his time playing golf and reading poetry in schools, died at his home in a suburb outside Falmouth.

Merrill's 40-year career began on stage in 1937. He starred with Davis in "All About Eve" and won the best-picture Academy Award, in 1950. Merrill went on to appear in more than 20 movies.

His marriage to Davis ended in divorce in 1960.

Davis sent a note to Merrill after he had planted himself outside a bookstore to urge people not to buy a critical biography of her written by her daughter. Merrill said he didn't want the actress to be ridiculed by a daughter he called "greedy."

by CNB