Willard Robertson

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Willard Robertson (born January 1, 1886 in Runnels County , Texas , † April 5, 1948 in Hollywood , California ) was an American actor and author.

life and career

Willard Robertson was born on New Year's Day 1886 in Runnels Conty, Texas. He first worked there successfully as a lawyer before developing an interest in acting. In May 1907, Robertson made his Broadway debut in The Builders . On Broadway, the character actor was seen in another 15 productions until 1930, mostly in supporting roles. After beginning his acting career, however, he continued to work - at least temporarily - as a lawyer, because during the First World War he worked for the American state and for railway companies. Like many theater actors, he moved to Hollywood at the beginning of the sound film at the end of the 1920s because of his speaking experience, having previously only appeared occasionally in silent films.

In almost 150 films between 1924 and 1948 Robertson played mostly supporting roles in authority figures such as sheriffs, mayors, officers, fathers or lawyers. One of his early roles was the strict but loving father of child star Jackie Cooper in Norman Taurog's Oscar-winning film Skippy (1931) and the sequel Sooky (also 1931). In his film career that followed, he mostly played authority figures in all genres, such as US Treasury Secretary Samuel D. Ingham in the lavish historical drama The Gorgeous Hussy (1936) with Joan Crawford , an officer in the drama Operator 13 (1938) about the American Civil War and a village sheriff in Western ride to the Ox-Bow , which threatens harsh punishments for the participants in a lynching. He made a rather atypical appearance as the exaggerated and extravagant lawyer for Barbara Stanwyck in the comedy The Unforgettable Night (1940).

In addition to acting, Willard Robertson has written several plays, two of which were filmed and two more staged on Broadway. In the 1940s he wrote two quite successful novels, the former Moontide being filmed in 1942 by Archie Mayo as Night in the Harbor with Jean Gabin and Ida Lupino in the leading roles. Willard Robertson, who worked as an actor until his death, died in 1948 at the age of 62.

Filmography (selection)

As an author

  • before 1921: Big Game (piece)
  • 1924: Daughters of the Night (original / screenplay)
  • before 1925: Why Women Love (piece)
  • 1927: Black Velvet (piece)
  • 1930: This Man's Town (piece)
  • 1942: Moontime (novel, filmed as Night in the Harbor )
  • 1944: Oasis (novel)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Willard Robertson at IBDB
  2. ^ Willard Robertson at Google Books
  3. ↑ Willard Robertson at the NY Times
personal data
SURNAME Robertson, Willard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American actor and writer
DATE OF BIRTH January 1, 1886
PLACE OF BIRTH Runnels Conty , Texas
DATE OF DEATH April 5, 1948
Place of death Hollywood , California