Robert Dudley
Biography
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.]
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (50)
The Jackpot
as Simpkins (uncredited)
1950
Strike It Rich
as Pop
1948
Race Street
as Pop (Watchman) (uncredited)
1948
Sleep, My Love
as Bar Patron at The Maples
1948
Mourning Becomes Electra
as Chemist (uncredited)
1947
Christmas Eve
as Robert - Matilda's Chauffeur (uncredited)
1947
Magic Town
as Dickey
1947
Living in a Big Way
as Carpenter
1947
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
as Robert McDuffy
1947
Singin' in the Corn
as Gramp McCoy
1946
San Quentin
as Fuller (uncredited)
1946
Gallant Journey
as Process Server (uncredited)
1946
San Antonio
1945
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry
1945
Lady on a Train
1945
Belle of the Yukon
as Storekeeper (uncredited)
1944
The Doughgirls
as Hotel Waiter
1944
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
as Man (uncredited)
1944
Casanova Brown
as Justice Of The Peace
1944
It Happened Tomorrow
as Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
1944
Main Street Today
as Frank Hostetter (uncredited)
1944
Happy Land
as Old Man Bowers (uncredited)
1943
Son of Dracula
as Justice of the Peace Jonathan Kirby (uncredited)
1943
Honeymoon Lodge
as Elderly Man
1943
The Ghost and the Guest
as Ben Bowron
1943
The Palm Beach Story
as Wienie King
1942
All That Money Can Buy
as Lem (uncredited)
1941
Citizen Kane
as Photographer (uncredited)
1941
The Lady Eve
as Husband on Ship (uncredited)
1941
When the Daltons Rode
as Pete Norris - Juror
1940
Stranger on the Third Floor
as Postman (uncredited)
1940
Lucky Partners
as Bailiff (uncredited)
1940
Haunted House
as Hank Edwards
1940
The House of the Seven Gables
as Jury Foreman
1940
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
as Reporter (uncredited)
1939
Yankee Doodle Goes to Town
as Shopkeeper (uncredited)
1939
Zenobia
as Court Clerk
1939
Almost a Gentleman
as Farmer
1939
The Toast of New York
as Janitor
1937
The Mighty Treve
as Rancher at Auction
1937
Fury
as Store Owner (uncredited)
1936
The Prisoner of Shark Island
as Druggist at Trial (uncredited)
1936
The Perfect Set-Up
as Theatre Employee Shooting Victim (uncredited)
1936
Paddy O'Day
as Robert - Chauffeur
1936
Frisco Kid
as Vigilante Leader (uncredited)
1935
3 Kids and a Queen
as Shopkeeper
1935
The Gilded Lily
as Store Clerk (uncredited)
1935
Wild Gold
as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
1934
Midnight Mary
as Mannering's Night Watchman (uncredited)
1933
Face in the Sky
as Minister (uncredited)
1933