Robert Dudley
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Sep 12, 1889
- Died
- Nov 12, 1955 (aged 66)
- Place of birth
- Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Credits
- 84
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
1941Movie
Photographer (uncredited)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939Movie
Reporter (uncredited)
The Lady Eve
1941Movie
Husband on Ship (uncredited)
Fury
1936Movie
Store Owner (uncredited)
The Palm Beach Story
1942Movie
Wienie King
Son of Dracula
1943Movie
Justice of the Peace Jonathan Kirby (uncredited)
Filmography
The Jackpot
1950Movie
Simpkins (uncredited)
Strike It Rich
1948Movie
Pop
Race Street
1948Movie
Pop (Watchman) (uncredited)
Sleep, My Love
1948Movie
Bar Patron at The Maples
Mourning Becomes Electra
1947Movie
Chemist (uncredited)
Christmas Eve
1947Movie
Robert - Matilda's Chauffeur (uncredited)
Magic Town
1947Movie
Dickey
Living in a Big Way
1947Movie
Carpenter
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
1947Movie
Robert McDuffy
Singin' in the Corn
1946Movie
Gramp McCoy
San Quentin
1946Movie
Fuller (uncredited)
Gallant Journey
1946Movie
Process Server (uncredited)
San Antonio
1945Movie
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry
1945Movie
Lady on a Train
1945Movie
Belle of the Yukon
1944Movie
Storekeeper (uncredited)
The Doughgirls
1944Movie
Hotel Waiter
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
1944Movie
Man (uncredited)
Casanova Brown
1944Movie
Justice Of The Peace
It Happened Tomorrow
1944Movie
Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
Main Street Today
1944Movie
Frank Hostetter (uncredited)
Happy Land
1943Movie
Old Man Bowers (uncredited)
Son of Dracula
1943Movie
Justice of the Peace Jonathan Kirby (uncredited)
Honeymoon Lodge
1943Movie
Elderly Man
The Ghost and the Guest
1943Movie
Ben Bowron
The Palm Beach Story
1942Movie
Wienie King
All That Money Can Buy
1941Movie
Lem (uncredited)
Citizen Kane
1941Movie
Photographer (uncredited)
The Lady Eve
1941Movie
Husband on Ship (uncredited)
When the Daltons Rode
1940Movie
Pete Norris - Juror
Stranger on the Third Floor
1940Movie
Postman (uncredited)
Lucky Partners
1940Movie
Bailiff (uncredited)
Haunted House
1940Movie
Hank Edwards
The House of the Seven Gables
1940Movie
Jury Foreman
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939Movie
Reporter (uncredited)
Yankee Doodle Goes to Town
1939Movie
Shopkeeper (uncredited)
Zenobia
1939Movie
Court Clerk
Almost a Gentleman
1939Movie
Farmer
The Toast of New York
1937Movie
Janitor
The Mighty Treve
1937Movie
Rancher at Auction
Fury
1936Movie
Store Owner (uncredited)
The Prisoner of Shark Island
1936Movie
Druggist at Trial (uncredited)
The Perfect Set-Up
1936Movie
Theatre Employee Shooting Victim (uncredited)
Paddy O'Day
1936Movie
Robert - Chauffeur
Frisco Kid
1935Movie
Vigilante Leader (uncredited)
3 Kids and a Queen
1935Movie
Shopkeeper
The Gilded Lily
1935Movie
Store Clerk (uncredited)
Wild Gold
1934Movie
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Midnight Mary
1933Movie
Mannering's Night Watchman (uncredited)
Face in the Sky
1933Movie
Minister (uncredited)
Three Wise Girls
1932Movie
Lem - the Druggist
Broken Lullaby
1932Movie
An American Tragedy
1931Movie
Juror (uncredited)
Scandal Sheet
1931Movie
Flint's Secretary
Conspiracy
1930Movie
Mr. Christopher (uncredited)
Dames Ahoy
1930Movie
Parson
Wide Open
1930Movie
Office Worker
Burning Up
1930Movie
Sheriff
Dynamite
1929Movie
Store Proprietor
Big News
1929Movie
Telegraph Editor
Shanghai Rose
1929Movie
Reformer
Fools for Luck
1928Movie
Jim Simpson
Skinner's Big Idea
1928Movie
Gibbs
The Night Flyer
1928Movie
Freddy
Broadway Madness
1927Movie
Thomas
After Midnight
1927Movie
Sugar Daddy (uncredited)
Casey at the Bat
1927Movie
Farmer (uncredited)
The Marriage Clause
1926Movie
Secretary
For Heaven's Sake
1926Movie
Harold's Secretary (uncredited)
A Woman of the World
1925Movie
French-speaking party guest
The Last Edition
1925Movie
Yes Man
Kentucky Pride
1925Movie
Preacher (uncredited)
On the Stroke of Three
1924Movie
Jasper Saddler
The Extra Girl
1923Movie
Financier
Sixty Cents an Hour
1923Movie
Storekeeper
The Tiger's Claw
1923Movie
Army Officer
Nobody's Bride
1923Movie
Uncle Peter Standish
Making a Man
1922Movie
Bailey
The Ninety and Nine
1922Movie
Abner Blake
One a Minute
1921Movie
Rogers' Attorney (uncredited)
Traveling Salesman
1921Movie
Pierce Gill
The Fourteenth Man
1920Movie
Tidmarsh
Out of a Clear Sky
1918Movie
Father
Seven Keys to Baldpate
1917Movie
Clerk