Robert Dudley
Born
September 12, 1889
Died
November 12, 1955 (66 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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
The Jackpot
Simpkins (uncredited)
1950
Strike It Rich
Pop
1948
Race Street
Pop (Watchman) (uncredited)
1948
Sleep, My Love
Bar Patron at The Maples
1948
Mourning Becomes Electra
Chemist (uncredited)
1947
Christmas Eve
Robert - Matilda's Chauffeur (uncredited)
1947
Magic Town
Dickey
1947
Living in a Big Way
Carpenter
1947
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
Robert McDuffy
1947
Singin' in the Corn
Gramp McCoy
1946
San Quentin
Fuller (uncredited)
1946
Gallant Journey
Process Server (uncredited)
1946
San Antonio
1945
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry
1945
Lady on a Train
1945
Belle of the Yukon
Storekeeper (uncredited)
1944
The Doughgirls
Hotel Waiter
1944
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
Man (uncredited)
1944
Casanova Brown
Justice Of The Peace
1944
It Happened Tomorrow
Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
1944
Main Street Today
Frank Hostetter (uncredited)
1944
Happy Land
Old Man Bowers (uncredited)
1943
Son of Dracula
Justice of the Peace Jonathan Kirby (uncredited)
1943
Honeymoon Lodge
Elderly Man
1943
The Ghost and the Guest
Ben Bowron
1943
The Palm Beach Story
Wienie King
1942
All That Money Can Buy
Lem (uncredited)
1941
Citizen Kane
Photographer (uncredited)
1941
The Lady Eve
Husband on Ship (uncredited)
1941
When the Daltons Rode
Pete Norris - Juror
1940
Stranger on the Third Floor
Postman (uncredited)
1940
Lucky Partners
Bailiff (uncredited)
1940
Haunted House
Hank Edwards
1940
The House of the Seven Gables
Jury Foreman
1940
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Reporter (uncredited)
1939
Yankee Doodle Goes to Town
Shopkeeper (uncredited)
1939
Zenobia
Court Clerk
1939
Almost a Gentleman
Farmer
1939
The Toast of New York
Janitor
1937
The Mighty Treve
Rancher at Auction
1937
Fury
Store Owner (uncredited)
1936
The Prisoner of Shark Island
Druggist at Trial
1936
The Perfect Set-Up
Theatre Employee Shooting Victim (uncredited)
1936
Paddy O'Day
Robert - Chauffeur
1936
Frisco Kid
Vigilante Leader (uncredited)
1935
3 Kids and a Queen
Shopkeeper
1935
The Gilded Lily
Store Clerk (uncredited)
1935
Wild Gold
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
1934
Midnight Mary
Mannering's Night Watchman (uncredited)
1933
Face in the Sky
Minister (uncredited)
1933
Three Wise Girls
Lem - the Druggist
1932
Broken Lullaby
1932
An American Tragedy
Juror (uncredited)
1931
Scandal Sheet
Flint's Secretary
1931
Conspiracy
Mr. Christopher (uncredited)
1930
Dames Ahoy
Parson
1930
Wide Open
Office Worker
1930
Burning Up
Sheriff
1930
Dynamite
Store Proprietor
1929
Big News
Telegraph Editor
1929
Shanghai Rose
Reformer
1929
Fools for Luck
Jim Simpson
1928
The Night Flyer
Freddy
1928
Casey at the Bat
Farmer (uncredited)
1927
The Marriage Clause
Secretary
1926
For Heaven's Sake
Harold's Secretary (uncredited)
1926
A Woman of the World
French-speaking party guest
1925
The Last Edition
Yes Man
1925
On the Stroke of Three
Jasper Saddler
1924
The Extra Girl
Financier
1923
The Tiger's Claw
Army Officer
1923
Making a Man
Bailey
1922
The Ninety and Nine
Abner Blake
1922
One a Minute
Rogers' Attorney (uncredited)
1921
Traveling Salesman
Pierce Gill
1921
The Fourteenth Man
Tidmarsh
1920
Seven Keys to Baldpate
Clerk
1917