Robert Dudley (actor)
Robert Dudley was a dentist turned film character actor who, in his 35-year career, appeared in more than 115 films.
Career
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 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 on September 15, 1955, in San Clemente, California.
Selected filmography
Seven Keys to Baldpate - ClerkOut of a Clear Sky - FatherThe Fourteenth Man - TidmarshThe Traveling Salesman - Pierce GillOne a Minute - Rogers' Attorney The Village Blacksmith - Townsman The Ninety and Nine - Abner BlakeMaking a Man - BaileyNobody's Bride - Uncle Peter StandishThe Tiger's Claw - Army OfficerSixty Cents an Hour - StorekeeperThe Day of Faith - MorrisThe Extra Girl - Financier Flapper Wives - LemOn the Stroke of Three - Jasper SaddlerKentucky Pride - Preacher The Last Edition - Yes Man A Woman of the World - French-Speaking Party Guest For Heaven's Sake - Harold's Secretary The Marriage Clause - SecretaryCasey at the Bat - Farmer Lure of the Night Club - Hired manAfter Midnight - Sugar Daddy Broadway Madness - ThomasGood Time Charley - Optometrist Chicago - Insurance Agent The Night Flyer - FreddySkinner's Big Idea - GibbsFools for Luck - Jim SimpsonThe Baby Cyclone - Minor Role The Bellamy Trial - CoronerFast Freight - Chief of PoliceBig News - Telegraph EditorThe Mysterious Island - Workman Dynamite - Store Proprietor Shanghai Rose - ReformerBurning Up - Sheriff Wide Open - Office WorkerDames Ahoy! - Parson The Sins of the Children - Harry - Inventory Recorder Conspiracy - Mr. Christopher Scandal Sheet - Flint's Secretary Politics - Husband Getting Haircut An American Tragedy - Juror Range Law - Minister Three Wise Girls - Lem - the DruggistBroken Lullaby - Townsman Unashamed - Hearing-Impaired Juror Reunion - Sgt. DudleyFace in the Sky - Minister Midnight Mary - Mannering's Night Watchman Wild Gold - Hotel Clerk The Gilded Lily - Store Clerk Goin' to Town - Deputy Front Page Woman - Dissenting Juror The Case of the Lucky Legs - Contest Stage Manager Three Kids and a Queen - Shopkeeper Frisco Kid - Vigilante Leader Paddy O'Day - Robert - Chauffeur The Prisoner of Shark Island - Druggist at Trial Fury - Townsman Store Owner The Bride Walks Out - Irate Neighbor The Man I Marry - Villager The Mighty Treve - Rancher at AuctionRacketeers in Exile - Purity League Member The Toast of New York - JanitorS.O.S. Coast Guard - Pierport Station Agent Springtime in the Rockies - Barn Dance Emcee The Four Feathers - Farmer Zenobia - Court ClerkA Woman Is the Judge - Prosecutor Mr. Smith Goes to Washington - Reporter The Amazing Mr. Williams - Citizens Committee Man The House of the Seven Gables - Jury Foreman Haunted House - Hank Edwards When the Daltons Rode - Pete Norris - Juror Lucky Partners - Bailiff Stranger on the Third Floor - Postman The Lady Eve - Husband on Ship Citizen Kane - Photographer The Devil and Daniel Webster - Lem Skylark - Pedestrian Sullivan's Travels - One-Legged Hobo Syncopation - Bartender The Palm Beach Story - Wienie KingCampeão da Liberdade - Man in Shop The Ghost and the Guest - Ben BowronFollow the Band - Seth Cathcart Honeymoon Lodge - Elderly Man Son of Dracula - Jonathan Kirby, Justice of the Peace Happy Land - Old Man Bowers The Miracle of Morgan's Creek - Man It Happened Tomorrow - A. Seemer Sensations of 1945 - Minor Role The Great Moment - Charles - Morton's Cashier Casanova Brown - Justice of the Peace The Doughgirls - Waiter with Fruit Bowl The Big Noise - Grandpa Nothing but Trouble - Old Man Music for Millions - Rafferty - Postman Belle of the Yukon - Storekeeper I'll Be Seeing You - Pine Hills YMCA Hotel Attendant Lady on a Train - Man in Newsreel Theatre The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry - Stationmaster San Antonio - The Telegrapher Colonel Effingham's Raid - Pete Breakfast in Hollywood - 78-Year-Old Man Cinderella Jones - Secretary A Stolen Life - Old Fisherman They Made Me a Killer - Station Master Gallant Journey - Process Server Singin' in the Corn - Gramp McCoyThe Sin of Harold Diddlebock - Robert McDuffyLiving in a Big Way - Old Carpenter Magic Town - DickeyChristmas Eve - Robert Mourning Becomes Electra - Chemist Sleep, My Love - Peeping Tom at The Maples Race Street - Pop - Watchman Strike It Rich - Pop - the PostmasterPortrait of Jennie - Another Old Mariner Johnny Holiday - Bill Barnett, Old Shoemaker The Jackpot - Mr. Simpkins As Young as You Feel - Old Man on Park Bench