Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 1, 2026

Jerry Miley

Emmor Jerome Miley Jr. was an American film actor. He was known for playing the murdered heir Allen Colby in the 1936 film Charlie Chan's Secret.

Last revised
Jul 1, 2026
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Jerry Miley
Miley (right) with Carmel Myers, 1926
Born
Emmor Jerome Miley Jr.

(1899-07-28)July 28, 1899
DiedJune 11, 1979(1979-06-11) (aged 79)
OccupationFilm actor
Spouse
Elsa Petersen
(m. 1932, annulled)
1

Emmor Jerome Miley Jr. (July 28, 1899 – June 11, 1979) was an American film actor.2 He was known for playing the murdered heir Allen Colby in the 1936 film Charlie Chan's Secret.34

Life and career

Miley was born in Alameda, California, the son of Emmor Jerome Sr., an oil businessman,5 and Beatrice Miley. He began his screen career in 1926, appearing in the film Wild Oats Lane.6 In the same year, he appeared in the films Broken Hearts of Hollywood and Bred in Old Kentucky.7

Later in his career, in 1936, Miley appeared in the film Charlie Chan's Secret, playing Allen Colby, the murdered heir and nephew of Henrietta Colby Lowell (Henrietta Crosman).34 He appeared in films such as Pajamas (as Russell Forrest), Paris in Spring, The Foxes of Harrow, Nightmare Alley, Down Among the Sheltering Palms, Fury at Furnace Creek, One in a Million and Rock Island Trail.8

Miley retired from acting in 1952, last appearing in the film Les Misérables, starring Michael Rennie, Debra Paget, Robert Newton and Edmund Gwenn.9

Death

Miley died on June 11, 1979, in Santa Barbara, California, at the age of 79. He was buried at Santa Barbara Cemetery.10

References

References

  1. "Actor Would Annul Mexican Marriage". Daily News. New York, New York. August 19, 1933. p. 11. Retrieved July 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  2. "Screen Actor Miley Ill With Pneumonia". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 29, 1927. p. 27. Retrieved July 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  3. Pitts, Michael (June 19, 2025). Thrills Untapped 2: More Discoveries for Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Movie Fans, 1928-1936. McFarland. p. 35. ISBN 9781476695495 – via Google Books.
  4. Hanke, Ken (January 14, 2011). Charlie Chan at the Movies: History, Filmography, and Criticism. McFarland. p. 58. ISBN 9780786486618 – via Google Books.
  5. "Man Who Drilled Rich LA Oil Finds Dies In Selma". The Fresno Bee. Fresno, California. August 31, 1954. p. 20. Retrieved July 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Jerry Miley In It". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. November 17, 1925. p. 29. Retrieved July 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  7. "Amusu Theatre". The Natchitoches Enterprise. Natchitoches, Louisiana. April 7, 1927. p. 5. Retrieved July 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  8. Gevinson, Alan (1997). Within Our Gates: Ethnicity in American Feature Films, 1911-1960. University of California Press. p. 1336. ISBN 9780520209640 – via Google Books.
  9. Parrish, James Robert (1972). The Paramount Pretties. Arlington House. pp. 289–290. ISBN 9780870001802 – via Google Books.
  10. "Miley, Emmor Miley". Santa Barbara News-Press. Santa Barbara, California. June 12, 1979. p. 25. Retrieved July 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
External links