Robert Brubaker
Robert Brubaker was an American character actor best known for his roles in television and movie Westerns, including Gunsmoke and 40 Guns to Apache Pass.
Early years
Brubaker was born in Robinson, Illinois, on October 9, 1916, the son of George Brubaker. His interest in acting developed when he was a student at Robinson Township High School. He dropped out of Northwestern University after two years and went to New York.
Military service
During World War II, Brubaker was an aircraft commander in the U.S. Army Air Force. Later, he served during the Berlin Airlift and during the Korean War he was a part of the Strategic Air Command.
Career
Brubaker debuted as a professional actor in Oh Say Can You Sing, Dance or Act, a production of the Federal Theatre Project. While he worked at radio station KMPC, Brubaker caught the attention of an executive of Paramount Pictures, and his film debut came in a bit part in Blonde Alibi.
Brubaker portrayed a deputy in the syndicated television series U.S. Marshal. He was the only actor to have two recurring roles on the television series, Gunsmoke, portraying both a bartender named Floyd and a stagecoach driver named Jim Buck. Some of Brubaker's other credits included the Rock Hudson film, Seconds, and television crime dramas The Walter Winchell File and Perry Mason, and the television police drama The Asphalt Jungle.
Later years
After he left acting, Brubaker worked for Forest Lawn Cemetery as a director in the training department. When he retired from that job, he moved to Lake Elsinore, California.
Death
Brubaker died on April 15, 2010, at the age of 93 in Riverside, California. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, in Southern California.
Partial filmography
Blonde Alibi – Pedestrian The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell – Major H. H. ArnoldPardners – Businessman The Girl He Left Behind – Colonel Thomas Murphy Written on the Wind – Hotel Manager The Book of Acts Series – Simon PeterThe Walter Winchell File – "Act of Folly" – – BeckmanBattle Hymn – Briefing Officer Mister Cory – Card Player Man of a Thousand Faces – Jack Conway, Director of 'Unholy Three' My Man Godfrey – Man with MonkeyDecision – – season 1 episode 13 – Tim RourkeThe Female Animal – Bartender The Gift of Love – State Trooper Official Detective – "Tinseled Alibi" – – SnyderThe Walter Winchell File – "Portrait of A Cop" – JanisThe Heart Is a Rebel – Dr. ChambersWanted Dead or Alive – – season 2 episode 12 – WarnerThe Walking Target – Brenner Moon Pilot – Space Flight Technician Seven Days in May – Gen. Diefenbach Apache Rifles – Sgt. CobbMirage – Bar Patron 40 Guns to Apache Pass – Sergeant WalkerSeconds – MayberryAirport – Dr. Nash The Brotherhood of the Bell – Bell Operative The Virginian – season 8 episode 23 – ReardonDragnet – Father of drug addictThe Bus Is Coming – Chief JacksonThe Sting – Bill Clayton from Pittsburgh