Robert Dudley
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Robert Dudley (September 13, 1869 – September 15*, 1955) was a dentist turned film character actor who, in his 35-year career, appeared in more than 115 films.
Dudley was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and was educated at Lake Forest College in Evanston, Illinois and Chicago, where he majored in oral surgery. In 1917 he appeared in his first film, Seven Keys to Baldpate, and then made three other silent films through 1921. After 1922 he worked consistently, appearing in three or four films a year, and making the transition to sound films in 1929 with The Bellamy Trial. Dudley often played characters with a quick temper, including jurors, shopkeepers, ticket agents, court clerks and justices of the peace, as well as an occasional farmer, hobo, or laborer. His performances in these small parts were frequently uncredited.
In the 1940s, Dudley was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in six films written and directed by Sturges. His most distinctive and memorable role for Sturges was the "Wienie King" in 1942's The Palm Beach Story, the funny little self-made rich man with a big hat who spontaneously bankrolls Claudette Colbert and Joel McCrea on their escapade.
The 5' 9" Dudley, who was the founder of the "Troupers Club of Hollywood", was married to Elaine Anderson, and they had two girls, Jewell and Patricia Lee.
He made his final film, As Young as You Feel, in 1951, and died in 1955 in San Clemente, California.
*[TMDb note: The California Death Index indicates that Mr. Dudley died on 12 November 1955. That date should therefore be considered accurate and official.]
Known for
Citizen Kane
Photographer (uncredited)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Reporter (uncredited)
Son of Dracula
Justice of the Peace Jonathan Kirby (uncredited)
The Lady Eve
Husband on Ship (uncredited)
It Happened Tomorrow
Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
The Prisoner of Shark Island
Druggist at Trial
The House of the Seven Gables
Jury Foreman
Living in a Big Way
Carpenter
Fury
Store Owner (uncredited)
Conspiracy
Mr. Christopher (uncredited)
Midnight Mary
Mannering's Night Watchman (uncredited)
The Palm Beach Story
Wienie King
San Antonio
Sleep, My Love
Bar Patron at The Maples
Stranger on the Third Floor
Postman (uncredited)
All That Money Can Buy
Lem (uncredited)
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
Robert McDuffy
Casanova Brown
Justice Of The Peace
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry
Happy Land
Old Man Bowers (uncredited)
Magic Town
Dickey
The Gilded Lily
Store Clerk (uncredited)
An American Tragedy
Juror (uncredited)
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
Man (uncredited)
The Ghost and the Guest
Ben Bowron
Race Street
Pop (Watchman) (uncredited)
San Quentin
Fuller (uncredited)
Broken Lullaby
When the Daltons Rode
Pete Norris - Juror
Main Street Today
Frank Hostetter (uncredited)
Dynamite
Store Proprietor
Mourning Becomes Electra
Chemist (uncredited)
Gallant Journey
Process Server (uncredited)
Christmas Eve
Robert - Matilda's Chauffeur (uncredited)
Frisco Kid
Vigilante Leader (uncredited)
Lucky Partners
Bailiff (uncredited)
Big News
Telegraph Editor
Paddy O'Day
Robert - Chauffeur
Lady on a Train
Belle of the Yukon
Storekeeper (uncredited)
The Doughgirls
Hotel Waiter
Wide Open
Office Worker
The Toast of New York
Janitor
Zenobia
Court Clerk
Scandal Sheet
Flint's Secretary
Almost a Gentleman
Farmer
The Jackpot
Simpkins (uncredited)
3 Kids and a Queen
Shopkeeper
For Heaven's Sake
Harold's Secretary (uncredited)
A Woman of the World
French-speaking party guest
Dames Ahoy
Parson
Fools for Luck
Jim Simpson
Three Wise Girls
Lem - the Druggist
Haunted House
Hank Edwards
Wild Gold
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Honeymoon Lodge
Elderly Man
Casey at the Bat
Farmer (uncredited)
Strike It Rich
Pop
One a Minute
Rogers' Attorney (uncredited)
The Night Flyer
Freddy
The Perfect Set-Up
Theatre Employee Shooting Victim (uncredited)
The Extra Girl
Financier
Face in the Sky
Minister (uncredited)
The Mighty Treve
Rancher at Auction
The Marriage Clause
Secretary
Burning Up
Sheriff
Shanghai Rose
Reformer
Yankee Doodle Goes to Town
Shopkeeper (uncredited)
Singin' in the Corn
Gramp McCoy
The Last Edition
Yes Man
The Tiger's Claw
Army Officer
Seven Keys to Baldpate
Clerk
Making a Man
Bailey
The Ninety and Nine
Abner Blake
The Fourteenth Man
Tidmarsh
Traveling Salesman
Pierce Gill
On the Stroke of Three
Jasper Saddler