Robert Dudley
Acting • Born 1889-09-12 – Died 1955-11-12
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.]
Filmography
82 credits
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
Movie • 1947
Robert McDuffy
The Palm Beach Story
Movie • 1942
Wienie King
Making a Man
Movie • 1922
Bailey
Fools for Luck
Movie • 1928
Jim Simpson
The Ninety and Nine
Movie • 1922
Abner Blake
San Antonio
Movie • 1945
Wild Gold
Movie • 1934
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
The Ghost and the Guest
Movie • 1943
Ben Bowron
Midnight Mary
Movie • 1933
Mannering's Night Watchman (uncredited)
The Jackpot
Movie • 1950
Simpkins (uncredited)
The Doughgirls
Movie • 1944
Hotel Waiter
Frisco Kid
Movie • 1935
Vigilante Leader (uncredited)
Shanghai Rose
Movie • 1929
Reformer
The Perfect Set-Up
Movie • 1936
Theatre Employee Shooting Victim (uncredited)
Broken Lullaby
Movie • 1932
Traveling Salesman
Movie • 1921
Pierce Gill
Lady on a Train
Movie • 1945
Wide Open
Movie • 1930
Office Worker
For Heaven's Sake
Movie • 1926
Harold's Secretary (uncredited)
Magic Town
Movie • 1947
Dickey
Casanova Brown
Movie • 1944
Justice Of The Peace
The Last Edition
Movie • 1925
Yes Man
Dames Ahoy
Movie • 1930
Parson
Conspiracy
Movie • 1930
Mr. Christopher (uncredited)
Burning Up
Movie • 1930
Sheriff
Three Wise Girls
Movie • 1932
Lem - the Druggist
San Quentin
Movie • 1946
Fuller (uncredited)
Christmas Eve
Movie • 1947
Robert - Matilda's Chauffeur (uncredited)
The Night Flyer
Movie • 1928
Freddy
All That Money Can Buy
Movie • 1941
Lem (uncredited)
The Marriage Clause
Movie • 1926
Secretary
Big News
Movie • 1929
Telegraph Editor
The Extra Girl
Movie • 1923
Financier
Sleep, My Love
Movie • 1948
Bar Patron at The Maples
Zenobia
Movie • 1939
Court Clerk
Scandal Sheet
Movie • 1931
Flint's Secretary
Paddy O'Day
Movie • 1936
Robert - Chauffeur
Face in the Sky
Movie • 1933
Minister (uncredited)
Almost a Gentleman
Movie • 1939
Farmer
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Movie • 1939
Reporter (uncredited)
Son of Dracula
Movie • 1943
Justice of the Peace Jonathan Kirby (uncredited)
Fury
Movie • 1936
Store Owner (uncredited)
Belle of the Yukon
Movie • 1944
Storekeeper (uncredited)
Race Street
Movie • 1948
Pop (Watchman) (uncredited)
The Lady Eve
Movie • 1941
Husband on Ship (uncredited)
It Happened Tomorrow
Movie • 1944
Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
Mourning Becomes Electra
Movie • 1947
Chemist (uncredited)
When the Daltons Rode
Movie • 1940
Pete Norris - Juror
Strike It Rich
Movie • 1948
Pop
Happy Land
Movie • 1943
Old Man Bowers (uncredited)
The House of the Seven Gables
Movie • 1940
Jury Foreman
Haunted House
Movie • 1940
Hank Edwards
Stranger on the Third Floor
Movie • 1940
Postman (uncredited)
Lucky Partners
Movie • 1940
Bailiff (uncredited)
On the Stroke of Three
Movie • 1924
Jasper Saddler
Citizen Kane
Movie • 1941
Photographer (uncredited)
Casey at the Bat
Movie • 1927
Farmer (uncredited)
A Woman of the World
Movie • 1925
French-speaking party guest
Seven Keys to Baldpate
Movie • 1917
Clerk
The Fourteenth Man
Movie • 1920
Tidmarsh
Living in a Big Way
Movie • 1947
Carpenter
Main Street Today
Movie • 1944
Frank Hostetter (uncredited)
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
Movie • 1944
Man (uncredited)
Honeymoon Lodge
Movie • 1943
Elderly Man
The Mighty Treve
Movie • 1937
Rancher at Auction
Singin' in the Corn
Movie • 1946
Gramp McCoy
Yankee Doodle Goes to Town
Movie • 1939
Shopkeeper (uncredited)
3 Kids and a Queen
Movie • 1935
Shopkeeper
The Tiger's Claw
Movie • 1923
Army Officer
One a Minute
Movie • 1921
Rogers' Attorney (uncredited)
An American Tragedy
Movie • 1931
Juror (uncredited)
The Toast of New York
Movie • 1937
Janitor
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry
Movie • 1945
Dynamite
Movie • 1929
Store Proprietor
Gallant Journey
Movie • 1946
Process Server (uncredited)
The Prisoner of Shark Island
Movie • 1936
Druggist at Trial (uncredited)
The Gilded Lily
Movie • 1935
Store Clerk (uncredited)
Nobody's Bride
Movie • 1923
Uncle Peter Standish
Out of a Clear Sky
Movie • 1918
Father
Sixty Cents an Hour
Movie • 1923
Storekeeper
After Midnight
Movie • 1927
Sugar Daddy (uncredited)
Skinner's Big Idea
Movie • 1928
Gibbs