Known For
Acting
Born
Sep 12, 1889
Died
Nov 12, 1955
Place of Birth
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Credits
84 titles
Robert Dudley
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.]
Known For
Filmography
The Jackpot
Simpkins (uncredited)
Strike It Rich
Pop
Race Street
Pop (Watchman) (uncredited)
Sleep, My Love
Bar Patron at The Maples
Mourning Becomes Electra
Chemist (uncredited)
Christmas Eve
Robert - Matilda's Chauffeur (uncredited)
Magic Town
Dickey
Living in a Big Way
Carpenter
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
Robert McDuffy
Singin' in the Corn
Gramp McCoy
San Quentin
Fuller (uncredited)
Gallant Journey
Process Server (uncredited)
San Antonio
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry
Lady on a Train
Belle of the Yukon
Storekeeper (uncredited)
The Doughgirls
Hotel Waiter
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
Man (uncredited)
Casanova Brown
Justice Of The Peace
It Happened Tomorrow
Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
Main Street Today
Frank Hostetter (uncredited)
Happy Land
Old Man Bowers (uncredited)
Son of Dracula
Justice of the Peace Jonathan Kirby (uncredited)
Honeymoon Lodge
Elderly Man
The Ghost and the Guest
Ben Bowron
The Palm Beach Story
Wienie King
All That Money Can Buy
Lem (uncredited)
Citizen Kane
Photographer (uncredited)
The Lady Eve
Husband on Ship (uncredited)
When the Daltons Rode
Pete Norris - Juror
Stranger on the Third Floor
Postman (uncredited)
Lucky Partners
Bailiff (uncredited)
Haunted House
Hank Edwards
The House of the Seven Gables
Jury Foreman
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Reporter (uncredited)
Yankee Doodle Goes to Town
Shopkeeper (uncredited)
Zenobia
Court Clerk
Almost a Gentleman
Farmer
The Toast of New York
Janitor
The Mighty Treve
Rancher at Auction
Fury
Store Owner (uncredited)
The Prisoner of Shark Island
Druggist at Trial (uncredited)
The Perfect Set-Up
Theatre Employee Shooting Victim (uncredited)
Paddy O'Day
Robert - Chauffeur
Frisco Kid
Vigilante Leader (uncredited)
3 Kids and a Queen
Shopkeeper
The Gilded Lily
Store Clerk (uncredited)
Wild Gold
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Midnight Mary
Mannering's Night Watchman (uncredited)
Face in the Sky
Minister (uncredited)