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.]
Acted in 83
1950s
- 1950
The Jackpot
Simpkins (uncredited)
1940s
- 1948
Strike It Rich
Pop
Race Street
Pop (Watchman) (uncredited)
- 1947
Mourning Becomes Electra
Chemist (uncredited)
Christmas Eve
Robert - Matilda's Chauffeur (uncredited)
Magic Town
Dickey
Living in a Big Way
Carpenter
- 1946
Singin' in the Corn
Gramp McCoy
San Quentin
Fuller (uncredited)
Gallant Journey
Process Server (uncredited)
- 1945
Lady on a Train
Movie
- 1944
The Doughgirls
Hotel Waiter
Main Street Today
Frank Hostetter (uncredited)
- 1943
Happy Land
Old Man Bowers (uncredited)
Honeymoon Lodge
Elderly Man
The Ghost and the Guest
Ben Bowron
- 1942
- 1941
All That Money Can Buy
Lem (uncredited)
- 1940
When the Daltons Rode
Pete Norris - Juror
Lucky Partners
Bailiff (uncredited)
Haunted House
Hank Edwards
The House of the Seven Gables
Jury Foreman
1930s
- 1939
Yankee Doodle Goes to Town
Shopkeeper (uncredited)
Almost a Gentleman
Farmer
- 1937
The Toast of New York
Janitor
The Mighty Treve
Rancher at Auction
- 1936
Fury
Store Owner (uncredited)
The Perfect Set-Up
Theatre Employee Shooting Victim (uncredited)
Paddy O'Day
Robert - Chauffeur
- 1935
3 Kids and a Queen
Shopkeeper
The Gilded Lily
Store Clerk (uncredited)
- 1934
Wild Gold
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
- 1933
Midnight Mary
Mannering's Night Watchman (uncredited)
Face in the Sky
Minister (uncredited)
- 1932
Three Wise Girls
Lem - the Druggist
Broken Lullaby
Movie
- 1931
An American Tragedy
Juror (uncredited)
Scandal Sheet
Flint's Secretary
- 1930
Dames Ahoy
Parson
Wide Open
Office Worker
Burning Up
Sheriff
1920s
- 1929
Shanghai Rose
Reformer
- 1928
Fools for Luck
Jim Simpson
Skinner's Big Idea
Gibbs
The Night Flyer
Freddy
- 1927
Broadway Madness
Thomas
After Midnight
Sugar Daddy (uncredited)
Casey at the Bat
Farmer (uncredited)
- 1926
The Marriage Clause
Secretary
For Heaven's Sake
Harold's Secretary (uncredited)
- 1925
A Woman of the World
French-speaking party guest
The Last Edition
Yes Man
Kentucky Pride
Preacher (uncredited)
- 1924
On the Stroke of Three
Jasper Saddler
- 1923
The Extra Girl
Financier
Sixty Cents an Hour
Storekeeper
The Tiger's Claw
Army Officer
Nobody's Bride
Uncle Peter Standish
- 1922
The Ninety and Nine
Abner Blake
- 1921
One a Minute
Rogers' Attorney (uncredited)
Traveling Salesman
Pierce Gill
- 1920
The Fourteenth Man
Tidmarsh
1910s
- 1918
Out of a Clear Sky
Father
- 1917
Seven Keys to Baldpate
Clerk