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