Dale Robertson
Born
July 14, 1923
Died
February 27, 2013 (89 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Harrah, Oklahoma USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dayle Lymoine Robertson (July 14, 1923 – February 27, 2013) was an American actor best known for his starring roles on television. He played the roving investigator Jim Hardie in the long-running NBC/ABC hit television series Tales of Wells Fargo, and Ben Calhoun, the owner of an incomplete railroad line in ABC's The Iron Horse. He was often presented as a deceptively thoughtful but modest Western hero. From 1968 to 1970, Robertson was the fourth and final host of the syndicated Death Valley Days anthology series.
For most of his career, Robertson played in western films and television shows—well over sixty titles in all. His best-remembered series, Tales of Wells Fargo aired on NBC from 1957 to 1961, when it moved to ABC and expanded to an hour-long program for its final season in 1961-1962. The show was originally produced by Nat Holt whom Robertson felt he owed his career to for giving him his first leading roles.[10] Robertson also did the narration for Tales of Wells Fargo through which he often presented his own commentary on matters of law, morality, and common sense. He was unique among his television contemporaries, stating that he hated the gun he was forced to carry, but saw it as a necessary evil, a "tool of the trade", and kept practicing.[citation needed] In its March 30, 1959, cover story on television westerns, Time reported Robertson was 6 feet tall, weighed 180 pounds, and measured 42-34-34. He sometimes made use of his physique in "beefcake" scenes, such as one in 1952's Return of the Texan where he is seen bare-chested and sweaty, repairing a fence.
In 1960, Robertson guest-starred as himself in NBC's The Ford Show, starring Tennessee Ernie Ford.[12] In 1962, he similarly appeared on a short-lived western comedy and variety series, ABC's The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show. In 1963, after Tales of Wells Fargo ended its five-year run, he played the lead role in the first of A.C. Lyles' second feature westerns, Law of the Lawless.
Known For
The Tulsa Lynching of 1921: A Hidden Story
2000
Harts of the West
(2 episodes)
1993
Legends of the West
Maj. Robert Parrish in 'Sitting Bull'
1992
J.J. Starbuck
Jerome Jeremiah Starbuck · (18 episodes)
1987
Murder, She Wrote
Colonel Lee Goddard (uncredited) · (2 episodes)
1984
Dynasty
Walter Lankershim · (15 episodes)
1981
The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang
Judge Isaac Parker
1979
Dallas
Frank Crutcher · (5 episodes)
1978
The Love Boat
Mason Fleers · (1 episode)
1977
The Kansas City Massacre
Melvin Purvis
1975
Melvin Purvis G-Man
Melvin Purvis
1975
The Walking Major
Major Clark J. Allen
1970
The Johnny Cash Show
Self · (1 episode)
1969
The Iron Horse
Ben Calhoun · (47 episodes)
1966
Scalplock
Benjamin Calhoun
1966
The One Eyed Soldiers
Richard Owen
1966
The Man from Button Willow
Justin Eagle
1965
Coast of Skeletons
A.J. Magnus
1965
Blood on the Arrow
Wade Cooper
1964
Law of the Lawless
Judge Clem Rogers
1964
The Hollywood Palace
Self - Host · (3 episodes)
1964
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (2 episodes)
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host · (10 episodes)
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (1 episode)
1961
Gunfight at Black Horses Canyon
Jim Hardie
1961
Fast and Sexy
Raffaele
1958
Hell Canyon Outlaws
Sheriff Caleb Wells
1957
Tales of Wells Fargo
Jim Hardie · (201 episodes)
1957
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Self · (1 episode)
1956
The High Terrace
Bill Lang
1956
Dakota Incident
John Banner
1956
The Steve Allen Show
Self - Tales of Wells Fargo · (1 episode)
1956
The Steve Allen Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1956
A Day of Fury
Jagade
1956
The 20th Century Fox Hour
Lt. Clay Tucker · (1 episode)
1955
Son of Sinbad
Sinbad
1955
Top of the World
Lee Gannon
1955
Climax!
(1 episode)
1954
Climax!
Nicky Jordan · (1 episode)
1954
Sitting Bull
Bob Parrish
1954
Studio 57
(1 episode)
1954
The Gambler from Natchez
Vance Colby
1954
City of Bad Men
Brett Stanton
1953
Devil's Canyon
Billy Reynolds
1953
The Farmer Takes a Wife
Dan Harrow
1953
The Silver Whip
Race Crim
1953
The Outcasts of Poker Flat
John Oakhurst
1952
The Ford Television Theatre
Donny Weaver · (1 episode)
1952
This Is Your Life
Self · (1 episode)
1952
Death Valley Days
Self - Host · (26 episodes)
1952
O. Henry's Full House
Barney Woods (segment "The Clarion Call")
1952
Lydia Bailey
Albion Hamlin
1952
Return of the Texan
Sam Crockett
1952
Golden Girl
Tom Richmond
1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
(1 episode)
1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Jim Hardie · (1 episode)
1951
The Red Skelton Show
Robinson Crusoe · (1 episode)
1951
The Secret of Convict Lake
Narrator (Voice) (uncredited)
1951
Take Care of My Little Girl
Joe Blake
1951
Call Me Mister
Capt. Johnny Comstock
1951
Two Flags West
Lem
1950
The Cariboo Trail
Will Gray
1950
Fighting Man of the Plains
Jesse James
1949
Flamingo Road
Tunis Simms (uncredited)
1949
The Boy with Green Hair
Policeman (uncredited)
1948