Robert Dudley (actor)

Infobox Actor
name = Robert Dudley


imagesize = 225px
caption = as "The Wienie King" in "The Palm Beach Story"
birthname = Robert Y. Dudley
birthdate = 13 September 1869
birthplace = Cincinnati, Ohio U.S.
deathdate = 15 September fy|1955 (aged 86)
deathplace = San Clemente, California U.S.
othername =
occupation = actor
yearsactive = fy|1917–fy|1951
spouse = Elaine Anderson
domesticpartner =
website =

Robert Dudley (13 September 1869–15 September fy|1955) born Robert Y. Dudley in Cincinnati, Ohio was a dentist turned film character actor who would, in his 35 year career, appear in over 115 films.imdb name|0240159|Robert Dudley]

Career

Dudley was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and was educated at Lake Forest University in Evanston, Illinois and Chicago, where he majored in oral surgery.IMDB [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0240159/bio Biography] ] In fy|1917 he appeared in his first film, "Seven Keys to Baldpate", and then made three other silent films through fy|1921. After fy|1922 he worked consistently, appearing in three or four films a year, and making the transition to sound films in fy|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.Wollstein, Hans J. [http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=2:20365 Biography (Allmovie)] ] 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. [Dudley appeared in "The Lady Eve", "Sullivan's Travels", "The Palm Beach Story", "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek", "The Great Moment" and "The Sin of Harold Diddlebock"] His most distinctive and memorable role for Sturges was the "Wienie King" in fy|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 fy|1951, and died 15 September fy|1955 in San Clemente, California, two days after his 86th birthday.

Notes

External links

*imdb name|0240159|Robert Dudley
*amg name|2:20365|Robert Dudley
*tcmdb name|53733|Robert Dudley

Persondata
NAME= Dudley, Robert
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Dudley, Robert Y.
SHORT DESCRIPTION= actor
DATE OF BIRTH= 13 September 1869
PLACE OF BIRTH= Cincinnati, Ohio U.S.
DATE OF DEATH= 15 September fy|1955
PLACE OF DEATH= San Clemente, California U.S.