John Dornin Eldredge (August 30, 1904 – September 23, 1961) was an American film and television actor. He was the younger brother of character actor George Eldredge (1898–1977).^[1]

Eldredge was born August 30, 1904, in San Francisco.^[2] He was the son of a clergyman who made a speciality of dramatics at university. When he confessed to his father that he wanted to be an actor, his father grinned and said: "That's all right son so long as you are a good one."^[2] His eldest brother, George Eldredge, also became an actor.^[1]

He began his theatrical career in repertory and then in comic opera and later played small parts in New York City till he made a hit on Broadway and it was a role opposite Lillian Gish that won him a Warners film contract.^[3]

Eldredge's Broadway credits include Three-Cornered Moon (1932), The Good Fairy (1932), Katerina (1928), The Cherry Orchard (1928), and The Would-be Gentleman (1928).^[4]

On 05/28/1959, he played Mr Preston on episode of Leave It to Beaver In 1954–1955, Eldredge played Harry Archer, father of the title character, in the CBS Television situation comedy Meet Corliss Archer.^[5]

He died September 23, 1961, at his home in Treasure Island Trailer Park in Laguna Beach, California, where he was recovering from a heart attack.^[6][7] His remains are interred at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona del Mar, California.^[8]