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)
Conspiracy
Mr. Christopher (uncredited)
Son of Dracula
Justice of the Peace Jonathan Kirby (uncredited)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Reporter (uncredited)
The Ghost and the Guest
Ben Bowron
The Lady Eve
Husband on Ship (uncredited)
Fury
Store Owner (uncredited)
Big News
Telegraph Editor
The Prisoner of Shark Island
Druggist at Trial
It Happened Tomorrow
Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
Stranger on the Third Floor
Postman (uncredited)
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
Man (uncredited)
The Palm Beach Story
Wienie King
San Antonio
All That Money Can Buy
Lem (uncredited)
Magic Town
Dickey
The House of the Seven Gables
Jury Foreman
Happy Land
Old Man Bowers (uncredited)
Casanova Brown
Justice Of The Peace
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
Robert McDuffy
When the Daltons Rode
Pete Norris - Juror
Sleep, My Love
Bar Patron at The Maples
Living in a Big Way
Carpenter
An American Tragedy
Juror (uncredited)
Dynamite
Store Proprietor
Race Street
Pop (Watchman) (uncredited)
Gallant Journey
Process Server (uncredited)
Mourning Becomes Electra
Chemist (uncredited)
Christmas Eve
Robert - Matilda's Chauffeur (uncredited)
Midnight Mary
Mannering's Night Watchman (uncredited)
San Quentin
Fuller (uncredited)
Dames Ahoy
Parson
Haunted House
Hank Edwards
Frisco Kid
Vigilante Leader (uncredited)
Main Street Today
Frank Hostetter (uncredited)
The Toast of New York
Janitor
The Jackpot
Simpkins (uncredited)
Lucky Partners
Bailiff (uncredited)
Lady on a Train
The Mighty Treve
Rancher at Auction
Almost a Gentleman
Farmer
Broken Lullaby
The Gilded Lily
Store Clerk (uncredited)
Fools for Luck
Jim Simpson
Zenobia
Court Clerk
3 Kids and a Queen
Shopkeeper
For Heaven's Sake
Harold's Secretary (uncredited)
Wide Open
Office Worker
The Doughgirls
Hotel Waiter
The Extra Girl
Financier
Belle of the Yukon
Storekeeper (uncredited)
Paddy O'Day
Robert - Chauffeur
Honeymoon Lodge
Elderly Man
Scandal Sheet
Flint's Secretary
Face in the Sky
Minister (uncredited)
The Perfect Set-Up
Theatre Employee Shooting Victim (uncredited)
A Woman of the World
French-speaking party guest
Casey at the Bat
Farmer (uncredited)
Burning Up
Sheriff
Strike It Rich
Pop
The Night Flyer
Freddy
Yankee Doodle Goes to Town
Shopkeeper (uncredited)
Three Wise Girls
Lem - the Druggist
Singin' in the Corn
Gramp McCoy
One a Minute
Rogers' Attorney (uncredited)
The Tiger's Claw
Army Officer
Traveling Salesman
Pierce Gill
The Marriage Clause
Secretary
Wild Gold
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Seven Keys to Baldpate
Clerk
The Fourteenth Man
Tidmarsh
Shanghai Rose
Reformer
The Last Edition
Yes Man
Making a Man
Bailey
The Ninety and Nine
Abner Blake
On the Stroke of Three
Jasper Saddler