James E. Meighan, Jr. (1903-1970) was an actor and second generation member of The Lambs. His father, James E. Meighan, Sr., and uncles, Shepherd Thomas Meighan and John A. Meighan were members.
He was elected to The Lambs in 1924 as a Professional Member. Like his father, Meighan served on the Lambs’ Council as the treasurer. His terms began in 1951 under Shepherd Bert Lytell and the following year under Shepherd William Gaxton.
He was born in Pittsburgh on August 22, 1903, to James Sr. and Georgella (née Bates) Meighan. He grew up in Rye, Westchester County, New York.
He got into show business in his teens. In 1923 Meighan was in hot water and his name was splashed in all the newspapers in New York. He was in the cast of Sholom Asch’s “The God of Vengeance,” a Yiddish drama set in a brothel, playing at the Apollo Theatre on 42nd Street. It included the first lesbian kiss on a New York stage. The entire cast and producers were arrested, charged, and found guilty by a jury of violating local obscenity laws. The charges were later dropped. He was elected to The Lambs the following year, when his father and uncle were notable members.
Meighan appeared on Broadway in Sigmund Romberg’s “My Maryland” and in the 1929 revival of Augustin Daly’s “Under The Gaslight.” He moved to daytime radio serials, and could be heard on “Just Plain Bill” and “Meet Miss Julie.” He was a regular in radio casts in the 1930s and 1940s.
During World War II Meighan served in the New York National Guard, 13th Regiment, for six months. He was discharged in 1941.
Meighan was married three times in 22 years. In 1924 he married actress Mary Morris. The marriage ended in divorce. His second marriage was to 19 year old Astrid Peters in Connecticut in 1930. They soon were divorced and in 1946 he remarried, to Alice W. Tierney. They had a daughter, Ingrid. The family moved to Long Island.
James E. Meighan, Jr. died June 20, 1970, in Huntington, Long Island, he was 66 years old. He is interred in Huntington Rural Cemetery. His father outlived him by 11 years, passing at age 103.
Researched and written by Shepherd Kevin C. Fitzpatrick (2026).