Robert Middleton
Robert Middleton (born May 13, 1911 in Cincinnati , Ohio as Samuel G. Messer , † June 14, 1977 in Encino , California ) was an American actor .
Life
Robert Middleton studied at several universities and came to the radio as a speaker after his military service during World War II. Middleton was the spokesperson in the civil defense film Duck and Cover , produced in 1951 and shown in almost all American schools during the 1950s. At that time he was working more as a speaker than an actor. Since the early 1950s he was seen regularly as a television actor, then in 1954 Middleton played his first film role. At that time he was already over 40 years old. His distinctive, heavy stature set him predominantly on the role of the brutal villain, often in westerns, but also in comedies. He had one of his first roles as a sadistic criminal in William Wyler's crime drama On a Day Like Any Other at the side of Fredric March and Humphrey Bogart . Also in 1955 he embodied Danny Kaye's opponent in Der Hofnarr (1955) , the "grim-horrible-cruel-Griswold", where he was also part of a legendary play on words.
Notable supporting roles for Middleton followed until the 1970s, such as The Hanged Man's Treasure (1957) alongside Robert Taylor , in Douglas Sirk's melodrama Duell in den Wolken (1957) or as a barman in Gene Kelly's western comedy Shot Is From Midnight . He had one of his last film roles in The Angels Eat Beans with Bud Spencer in the early 1970s . Middleton has also appeared on television as a guest star in popular series such as Columbo , Bonanza A Sheriff in New York , Charlie's Angels and A Thousand Miles of Dust .
Robert Middleton died of a heart attack in 1977 at the age of 66 . He left behind two children who were divorced in the 1950s.
Filmography (selection)
- 1954: The Silver Chalice (The Silver Chalice)
- 1955: On a Day Like Any Other ( The Desperate Hours )
- 1955: The Court Jester ( The Court Jester )
- 1955: Secret Ring 99 ( The Big Combo )
- 1955: On the Trail of Death ( Red Sundown )
- 1955: The Fearless ( The Proud Ones )
- 1956: Alluring Temptation ( Friendly Persuasion )
- 1956: Gunpowder Steam and Hot Songs ( Love Me Tender )
- 1957: The Lonely ( The Lonely Man )
- 1957: The Treasure of the Hanged ( The Law and Jake Wade )
- 1957: The last ball ( The Day of the Bad Man )
- 1957: Duel in the Clouds ( Tarnished Angels )
- 1959: The Relentless ( Hell Bent for Leather )
- 1959: Nobody leaves the ship ( Don't Give Up the Ship )
- 1959: Many are called ( Career )
- 1960: The Gold of the Seven Mountains ( Gold of the Seven Saints )
- 1961: A Charming Impostor ( The Great Impostor )
- 1962: Gunslingers of Wyoming ( Cattle King )
- 1965: Highest stakes in Laredo ( A Big Hand for the Little Lady )
- 1970: Shooting starts at midnight ( The Cheyenne Social Club )
- 1972: Angels also eat beans ( Anche gli angeli mangiano fagioli )
- 1974: Columbo - A Thoroughly Motivated Death ( Double Exposure )
Web links
- Robert Middleton in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Duck and Cover
- ↑ Kay Less : The film's great personal dictionary . The actors, directors, cameramen, producers, composers, screenwriters, film architects, outfitters, costume designers, editors, sound engineers, make-up artists and special effects designers of the 20th century. Volume 5: L - N. Rudolf Lettinger - Lloyd Nolan. Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf, Berlin 2001, ISBN 3-89602-340-3 , p. 432.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Middleton, Robert |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Messer, Samuel G. (maiden name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | US-American actor |
| DATE OF BIRTH | May 13, 1911 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Cincinnati , Ohio |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 14, 1977 |
| Place of death | Encino , California |