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Robert Armstrong (actor)

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Occupation
  
Actor

Role
  
Film actor


Name
  
Robert Armstrong

Years active
  
1919-1966

TV shows
  
The First Hundred Years

Robert Armstrong (actor) bayjournalcombay1pipeoarmstrongrobertjpg

Born
  
November 20, 1890 (
1890-11-20
)

Resting place
  
Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California

Died
  
April 20, 1973, Santa Monica, California, United States

Spouse
  
Claire Louise Frisbie (m. 1940–1973)

Movies
  
King Kong, Son of Kong, Mighty Joe Young, The Most Dangerous Game, A Girl in Every Port

Similar People
  
Ernest B Schoedsack, Merian C Cooper, Bruce Cabot, Fay Wray, Terry Moore

Robert Armstrong (November 20, 1890 – April 20, 1973) was an American film actor remembered for his role as Carl Denham in the 1933 version of King Kong by RKO Pictures. He uttered the famous exit quote, "'Twas beauty killed the beast," at the film's end.

Contents

Robert Armstrong (actor) Robert Armstrong actor Img Need

Early years

Robert Armstrong (actor) httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommons99

Born Robert William Armstrong in Saginaw, Michigan, lived in Bay City, Michigan until about 1902 and moved to Seattle, Washington. Armstrong studied to be a lawyer but gave it up to manage his uncle's touring companies. He attended the University of Washington where he studied law and became a member of Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity.

Career

Robert Armstrong (actor) Robert Armstrong King Kong 1933 Autographed Photo Actor Autographs

In his spare time Armstrong wrote plays, which eventually led to him appearing in one of them when it was produced. Armstrong served in the United States Army in World War I, and upon his return home after the war, Armstrong discovered his uncle had died while he was away. In 1926 he went to London and appeared for a season on the British stage. Armstrong's silver screen career began in 1927 when he appeared in Pathé's silent drama The Main Event.

Robert Armstrong (actor) Robert Armstrong 1890 1973 Find A Grave Memorial

Armstrong appeared in 127 films between 1927 and 1964; very prolific in the late 1920s and early 1930s, he made nine movies in 1928 alone. He is best known for his role as director Carl Denham in King Kong. Months later in 1933, he starred as Carl Denham again in the sequel, Son of Kong, released the same year. He resembled King Kong producer and adventurer Merian C. Cooper, and Cooper used him in several films as more or less a version of himself (they coincidentally died sixteen hours apart). The Most Dangerous Game was filmed at night on the same jungle sets as King Kong, which was being shot during the day, with Armstrong and Fay Wray simultaneously starring in both pictures.

In 1937 Armstrong starred in With Words and Music (also referred to as The Girl Said No) released by Grand National Films Inc. He also worked throughout the 1930s and 1940s for many film studios. Prior to World War II, in the early 1940s, Universal Pictures released Enemy Agent, about a plot to thwart the Nazis. In the film, Armstrong co-starred with Helen Vinson, Richard Cromwell and Jack La Rue. Later, in 1942, he played again opposite Cromwell in Baby Face Morgan, a notable "B" effort for PRC (Producers Releasing Corporation). Later in that decade, Armstrong played another Carl Denham-like leading character role as "Max O'Hara" in 1949's Mighty Joe Young. This film was yet another stop-motion animation giant gorilla fantasy, made by the same King Kong team of Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack.

In the 1950s Armstrong appeared as Sheriff Andy Anderson on Rod Cameron's syndicated western-themed television series, State Trooper. Cameron played the role of Rod Blake, chief investigator for the Nevada Department of Public Safety. Armstrong made four guest appearances on Perry Mason during its nine-year run on CBS: in 1961 he played the title character and murder victim Capt. Bancroft in "The Case of the Malicious Mariner;" in 1962 he played defendant Jimmy West in "The Case of the Playboy Pugilist;" and in 1964 he played murderer Phil Jenks in "The Case of the Accousted Accountant."

Marriages

Robert Armstrong (actor) Robert Armstrong

  • Peggy Allenby (August 1920 - April 17, 1925; divorced)
  • Ethel Virah Smith (June 12, 1926 - July 27, 1931; divorced)
  • Gladys Dubois (January 10, 1936 - December 31, 1939; divorced)
  • Claire Louise Frisbie (January 1, 1940 - April 20, 1973; his death)
  • Death

    Armstrong died of cancer in Santa Monica, California. He and King Kong's co-producer, Merian C. Cooper, died within sixteen hours of each other.

    Filmography

    Actor
    1964
    For Those Who Think Young as
    Norman Armstrong - Cronin's Business Associate
    1958
    Perry Mason (TV Series) as
    Phil Jenks / Jimmy West / Capt. Bancroft / ...
    - The Case of the Accosted Accountant (1964) - Phil Jenks
    - The Case of the Playboy Pugilist (1962) - Jimmy West
    - The Case of the Malicious Mariner (1961) - Capt. Bancroft
    - The Case of the Sardonic Sergeant (1958) - Walter Haskell
    1963
    Redigo (TV Series) as
    Pat Royal
    - The Crooked Circle (1963) - Pat Royal
    1963
    Johnny Cool as
    Gang Member
    1963
    77 Sunset Strip (TV Series) as
    Pop Bateman
    - To Catch a Mink (1963) - Pop Bateman
    1962
    The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (TV Series) as
    Captain Charles Faulkner
    - House Guest (1962) - Captain Charles Faulkner
    1960
    Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) as
    Doc Buckles / Saloonkeeper
    - The Faith of Aaron Menefee (1962) - Doc Buckles
    - The Little Man Who Was There (1960) - Saloonkeeper
    1961
    Lassie (TV Series) as
    Oliver
    - Lassie and the Grand Canyon (1961) - Oliver
    1961
    Rawhide (TV Series) as
    Cal Stone
    - Incident Before Black Pass (1961) - Cal Stone
    1958
    Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series) as
    Jess Walden / Red Willis
    - Lady Trouble (1961) - Jess Walden
    - The Prisoner (1958) - Red Willis
    1961
    The Barbara Stanwyck Show (TV Series) as
    Inspector Gunnison
    - Along the Barbary Coast (1961) - Inspector Gunnison
    1961
    Laramie (TV Series) as
    Sheriff
    - The Lost Dutchman (1961) - Sheriff
    1960
    Lawman (TV Series) as
    Frank Fenway / Lacey Grant
    - The Catcher (1960) - Frank Fenway
    - The Hardcase (1960) - Lacey Grant
    1960
    Lock Up (TV Series) as
    Sam Ellender
    - The Seventh Hour (1960) - Sam Ellender
    1960
    Bronco (TV Series) as
    Marshal Herbert Coles
    - The Mustangers (1960) - Marshal Herbert Coles
    1960
    The Alaskans (TV Series) as
    John Coleman
    - Sign of the Kodiak (1960) - John Coleman
    1960
    Sugarfoot (TV Series) as
    Big Bill Carmody
    - The Long Dry (1960) - Big Bill Carmody
    1960
    Riverboat (TV Series) as
    Sheriff
    - The Wichita Arrows (1960) - Sheriff
    1960
    M Squad (TV Series) as
    Otto Penick
    - Burglar's Nightmare (1960) - Otto Penick
    1960
    The Deputy (TV Series) as
    Constable Emmanuel Dobbs
    - Hang the Law (1960) - Constable Emmanuel Dobbs (uncredited)
    1959
    Colt .45 (TV Series) as
    Jud Bowlus
    - Calamity (1959) - Jud Bowlus
    1959
    Wagon Train (TV Series) as
    Roy Daniels
    - The Estaban Zamora Story (1959) - Roy Daniels
    1956
    State Trooper (TV Series) as
    Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - Another Chance (1959) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - The Choker (1959) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - Hard Money, Soft Touch (1959) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - Fiddle Dee Dead (1959) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - This One'll Kill Ya (1959) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - You Can't Run Forever (1958) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - Joker's Dead (1958) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - No, My Darling Daughter (1958) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - The Last Waltz (1958) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - 312 Vertical (1958) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - Firebug (1958) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - 710 Hysteria Street (1958) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - Ride Til You Die (1957) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - Jail Trail (1957) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - The One That Didn't Get Away (1957) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - Cinder Jungle (1957) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - The Last War Party (1957) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - Violets on Mt. Rose (1957) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - No Fancy Cowboys (1957) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - Who Killed Doc. Robbins (1957) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - Boulder Joe's Bottle House (1957) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - Rocking Chair Bandit (1957) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - Room Service for 321 (1957) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - One Way to Tahoe (1956) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - Nevada Boy, Pride and Joy (1956) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - What Price Gloria (1956) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - Meeting at Julias (1956) - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    - Still Water Runs Red - Sheriff Andy Anderson
    1959
    26 Men (TV Series) as
    J.C. Vallon / Tom Marlin
    - Trial at Verde River (1959) - J.C. Vallon
    - The Unwanted (1959) - Tom Marlin
    1959
    Cimarron City (TV Series) as
    Josh Matthews
    - The Town Is a Prisoner (1959) - Josh Matthews
    1958
    Trackdown (TV Series) as
    Sheriff Croft
    - Three-Legged Fox (1958) - Sheriff Croft
    1958
    Girl with an Itch as
    Ben Cooper
    1958
    Man with a Camera (TV Series) as
    Marty Delgado
    - Closeup on Violence (1958) - Marty Delgado
    1958
    Have Gun - Will Travel (TV Series) as
    Sidney Carter
    - The Hanging of Roy Carter (1958) - Sidney Carter
    1955
    Climax! (TV Series) as
    Barney Farrell / John Piersall
    - Shooting for the Moon (1958) - Barney Farrell
    - Fear Strikes Out (1955) - John Piersall
    1957
    Dr. Christian (TV Series) as
    Larsen
    - Company Control (1957) - Larsen
    1957
    Man Without a Gun (TV Series)
    - Silent Town (1957)
    1957
    The Crooked Circle as
    Al Taylor
    1957
    Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre (TV Series) as
    Sheriff
    - Roadblock Number Seven (1957) - Sheriff
    1957
    The Adventures of McGraw (TV Series) as
    Sheriff Andy Plummer
    - Mojave (1957) - Sheriff Andy Plummer
    1957
    Code 3 (TV Series) as
    Lt. Morse / Capt. Morse
    - Case 2206 (1957) - Capt. Morse
    - The Menace (1957) - Lt. Morse
    - The Print with a Face (1957) - Lt. Morse
    1955
    Crossroads (TV Series) as
    Orville Jackson / Casey / Gatch
    - The Healing (1957) - Orville Jackson
    - The Bowery Bishop (1956) - Casey
    - Hostage (1955) - Gatch
    1957
    The Red Skelton Hour (TV Series) as
    Lt. Flanagan
    - Clem's Fish Market (1957) - Lt. Flanagan
    1956
    The Peacemaker as
    Sheriff Ben Seale
    1956
    Broken Arrow (TV Series) as
    Inspector Higgins
    - Caged (1956) - Inspector Higgins
    1956
    The 20th Century-Fox Hour (TV Series) as
    Pop
    - Smoke Jumpers (1956) - Pop
    1956
    Zane Grey Theatre (TV Series) as
    Sheriff Dan Walker
    - The Long Road Home (1956) - Sheriff Dan Walker
    1956
    Camera Three (TV Series) as
    Vardamen
    - As I Lay Dying (1956) - Vardamen
    1954
    Studio 57 (TV Series) as
    Dowd / Pvt. Jeb Watkins / Grandpa Soames / ...
    - The Lonely Man (1956) - Dowd
    - The Regulators (1956)
    - Georgia Man (1956) - Pvt. Jeb Watkins
    - Secret Message (1955) - Grandpa Soames
    - Sauce for the Gander (1954) - Woody Woodruff
    1956
    Strange Stories (TV Series) as
    Woody Woodruff
    - Such a Nice Little Girl (1956) - Woody Woodruff
    1956
    Damon Runyon Theater (TV Series) as
    O'Rourke
    - Hot Oil (1956) - O'Rourke
    1956
    The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (TV Series) as
    Fire Chief
    - The Volunteer Firemen (1956) - Fire Chief
    1956
    Cheyenne (TV Series) as
    Marshall Len Merrick
    - The Travelers (1956) - Marshall Len Merrick
    1955
    General Electric Theater (TV Series) as
    Kennedy / Walt Bevans
    - Farewell to Kennedy (1955) - Kennedy
    - Into the Night (1955) - Walt Bevans
    1955
    Double Jeopardy as
    Sam Baggott
    1955
    Las Vegas Shakedown as
    Doc
    1955
    Soldiers of Fortune (TV Series) as
    Sacaree
    - Cut Charlie In (1955) - Sacaree
    1955
    The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (TV Series) as
    Gus Brennar
    - Pals to the End (1955) - Gus Brennar
    1954
    Adventures of the Falcon (TV Series) as
    Barry Lang / George Grinley
    - The Big Break (1954) - Barry Lang
    - The Paper Finger (1954) - George Grinley
    1954
    Waterfront (TV Series) as
    Clem Bartlett / Tom Henderson
    - Anchors of the Past (1954) - Clem Bartlett
    - Double Exposure - Tom Henderson
    1954
    Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series) as
    Jay Calliston
    - The Long Trail (1954) - Jay Calliston
    1954
    Public Defender (TV Series) as
    Father Dunn
    - The Last Appeal (1954) - Father Dunn
    1953
    Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) as
    Dr. Hoffman
    - Autumn Nocturne (1953) - Dr. Hoffman
    1952
    Armstrong Circle Theatre (TV Series) as
    Harry Parker
    - Fable of Honest Harry (1952) - Harry Parker
    1951
    The First Hundred Years (TV Series) as
    Mr. Martin
    - Pressure (1952) - Mr. Martin
    1952
    The Pace That Thrills as
    J.C. Barton
    1951
    The Bigelow Theatre (TV Series)
    - The First Hundred Years (1951)
    1950
    Destination Big House as
    Ed Somers
    1950
    The Silver Theatre (TV Series)
    - The First Hundred Years (1950)
    1950
    Captain China as
    Keegan
    1949
    Sons of New Mexico as
    Pat Feeney
    1949
    Mighty Joe Young as
    Max O'Hara
    1949
    Streets of San Francisco as
    Willard Logan
    1949
    The Crime Doctor's Diary as
    George 'Goldie' Harrigan
    1949
    The Lucky Stiff as
    Insp. Von Flanagan
    1948
    Salt of the Earth as
    Harley Russell
    1948
    The Paleface as
    Terris
    1948
    Return of the Bad Men as
    Wild Bill Doolin
    1947
    The Fugitive as
    A Sergeant of Police
    1947
    Exposed as
    Inspector Prentice
    1947
    Fall Guy as
    Mac McLaine
    1947
    The Sea of Grass as
    Floyd McCurtin
    1946
    Criminal Court as
    Vic Wright
    1946
    Decoy as
    Frankie Olins
    1946
    G.I. War Brides as
    Dawson
    1946
    Blonde Alibi as
    Police Detective Williams
    1946
    Gay Blades as
    McManus
    1945
    The Royal Mounted Rides Again as
    Jonathan Price
    1945
    Arson Squad as
    Fire Capt. Joe Dugan
    1945
    The Falcon in San Francisco as
    De Forrest Marshall
    1945
    Gangs of the Waterfront as
    Peter Winkly and Dutch Malone
    1945
    Blood on the Sun as
    Col. Hideki Tojo
    1944
    Belle of the Yukon as
    George
    1944
    Mr. Winkle Goes to War as
    Joe Tinker
    1944
    The Navy Way as
    CPO Harper
    1944
    Action in Arabia as
    Matthew Reed
    1943
    Around the World as
    General (uncredited)
    1943
    The Mad Ghoul as
    Ken McClure
    1943
    The Kansan as
    Malachy
    1943
    Adventures of the Flying Cadets as
    Arthur Galt - alias The Black Hangman
    1943
    Wings Over the Pacific as
    Pieter Van Bronk
    1943
    The Fighting Engineers (Short)
    1942
    Baby Face Morgan as
    'Doc' Rogers
    1942
    Let's Get Tough! as
    Pop Stevens
    1942
    It Happened in Flatbush as
    Danny Mitchell
    1942
    My Favorite Spy as
    Harry Robinson
    1942
    Gang Busters as
    Det. Tim Nolan
    1941
    Dive Bomber as
    Art Lyons
    1941
    Citadel of Crime as
    Cal Fullerton
    1941
    Sky Raiders as
    Lt. Ed Carey
    1941
    Mr. Dynamite as
    Paul
    1940
    San Francisco Docks as
    Father Mike Cameron
    1940
    Meet the Fleet (Short) as
    CPO Bill Jennings
    1940
    Behind the News as
    Vic Archer
    1940
    The Bride Wore Crutches as
    Pete
    1940
    Service with the Colors (Short) as
    Sgt. Clicker
    1940
    Enemy Agent as
    Gordon
    1940
    Forgotten Girls as
    Grover Mullins
    1940
    Framed as
    Skippy
    1939
    Call a Messenger as
    Kirk Graham
    1939
    Flight at Midnight as
    Jim Brennan
    1939
    Winter Carnival as
    Tiger Reynolds
    1939
    Unmarried as
    Pins Streaver
    1939
    Man of Conquest as
    Jim Bowie
    1939
    The Flying Irishman as
    Joe Alden
    1938
    There Goes My Heart as
    Detective O'Brien
    1938
    The Night Hawk as
    Charlie McCormick
    1937
    She Loved a Fireman as
    Capt. Smokey Shannon
    1937
    The Girl Said No as
    Jimmie Allen
    1937
    It Can't Last Forever as
    Al Tinker
    1937
    Three Legionnaires as
    Sgt. Chuck Connors
    1937
    Nobody's Baby as
    Scoops Hanford
    1936
    Without Orders as
    'Wad' Madison
    1936
    All American Chump as
    Bill Hogan
    1936
    Public Enemy's Wife as
    Gene Ferguson
    1936
    The Ex-Mrs. Bradford as
    Nick Martel
    1936
    Dangerous Waters as
    'Dusty' Johnson
    1935
    Pirate Party on Catalina Isle (Short) as
    Performer
    1935
    Remember Last Night? as
    Fred Flannagan
    1935
    Little Big Shot as
    Steve
    1935
    'G' Men as
    Jeff McCord
    1935
    Sweet Music as
    'Dopey' Malone
    1935
    Gigolette as
    Chuck Ahearn
    1935
    The Mystery Man as
    Larry Doyle
    1934
    Flirting with Danger as
    Bob Owens
    1934
    Kansas City Princess as
    Dynamite Carson
    1934
    The Hell Cat as
    Dan Collins
    1934
    Manhattan Love Song as
    Tom Williams
    1934
    She Made Her Bed as
    'Duke' Gordon
    1934
    Search for Beauty as
    Larry Williams
    1934
    Palooka as
    Pete Palooka
    1933
    Son of Kong as
    Carl Denham
    1933
    Above the Clouds as
    Scoop Adams
    1933
    Blind Adventure as
    Richard Bruce
    1933
    I Love That Man as
    Driller
    1933
    Fast Workers as
    Bucker Reilly
    1933
    King Kong as
    Carl Denham
    1933
    The Billion Dollar Scandal as
    Fingers Partos
    1932
    Penguin Pool Murder as
    Barry Costello
    1932
    The Most Dangerous Game as
    Martin
    1932
    Hold 'Em Jail as
    The Radio Announcer
    1932
    Is My Face Red? as
    Ed Maloney
    1932
    Radio Patrol as
    Bill Kennedy
    1932
    The Lost Squadron as
    Lt. Woody Kerwood
    1932
    Panama Flo as
    Babe Dillon
    1931
    Suicide Fleet as
    Dutch
    1931
    The Tip-Off as
    Kayo McClure
    1931
    Ex-Bad Boy as
    Chester Binney
    1931
    The Iron Man as
    George Regan
    1930
    Paid as
    Joe Garson
    1930
    Big Money as
    Ace
    1930
    Danger Lights as
    Larry Doyle
    1930
    Dumbbells in Ermine as
    Jerry Malone
    1930
    Be Yourself! as
    Jerry Moore
    1929
    The Racketeer as
    Mahlon Keane
    1929
    Oh, Yeah? as
    Dude Cowan
    1929
    Big News as
    Steve Banks
    1929
    The Woman from Hell as
    Alf
    1929
    The Leatherneck as
    Joseph Hanlon
    1928
    The Shady Lady as
    Blake
    1928
    Ned McCobb's Daughter as
    Babe Callahan
    1928
    Show Folks as
    Owens - Promoter
    1928
    Celebrity as
    Kid Reagan
    1928
    The Baby Cyclone as
    Gene
    1928
    The Cop as
    Scarface Marcas
    1928
    Square Crooks as
    Eddie Ellison
    1928
    A Girl in Every Port as
    Bill / Salami
    1928
    The Leopard Lady as
    Chris
    1927
    The Main Event as
    Red Lucas
    Soundtrack
    1944
    Mr. Winkle Goes to War (performer: "Sweet Genevieve" - uncredited)
    1935
    Sweet Music (performer: "The Good Green Acres of Home" - uncredited)
    1933
    King Kong ("St. Louis Blues" (1914), uncredited)
    1932
    The Lost Squadron ("Auld Lang Syne" (1788), uncredited)
    1930
    Be Yourself! (performer: "Cookin' Breakfast for the One I Love" (1930) - uncredited)
    Thanks
    2005
    King Kong (dedicatee)
    Self
    1958
    This Is Your Life (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Jimmy Gleason (1958) - Self
    1957
    The Red Skelton Hour (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Clem in New York (1957) - Self
    1935
    Things You Never See on the Screen (Short) as
    Self
    1930
    Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1 (Short) as
    Self
    1930
    Screen Snapshots Series 9, No. 24 (Short) as
    Self
    1929
    Players at Play (Documentary short) as
    Self (as Bob Armstrong)
    Archive Footage
    2011
    J. Edgar as
    Jeff McCord in G-Men (uncredited)
    2009
    Cinemassacre's Monster Madness (TV Series documentary) as
    Carl Denham
    - King Kong (2009) - Carl Denham
    2005
    The Lost Spider Pit Sequence (Video short) as
    Carl Denham
    2005
    I'm King Kong!: The Exploits of Merian C. Cooper (Documentary) as
    Carl Denham
    1998
    Universal Horror (TV Movie documentary)
    1956
    Strange Stories (TV Series) as
    Gus Brennar
    - Pals to the End (1956) - Gus Brennar

    References

    Robert Armstrong (actor) Wikipedia


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