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Dewey Robinson (August 17, 1898 – December 11, 1950) was an American film
character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to ...
who appeared in more than 250 films made between 1931 and 1952.


Career

Dewey Robinson was born in
New Haven, Connecticut New Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut and is part of the New York City metropolitan area. With a population of 134,023 ...
, in 1898, and made his Broadway debut in 1922 in the melodrama ''The Last Warning'', which ran for seven months and 238 performances. Several years later, in 1925, he appeared in a comedy, ''Solid Ivory'', his final Broadway production. In 1931, Robinson, a big, barrel-chested man at who easily conveyed physical menace, made his first film when he played a waiter in
George Cukor George Dewey Cukor (; July 7, 1899 – January 24, 1983) was an American film director and film producer. He mainly concentrated on comedies and literary adaptations. His career flourished at RKO when David O. Selznick, the studio's Head of ...
's '' Tarnished Lady'', starring
Tallulah Bankhead Tallulah Brockman Bankhead (January 31, 1902 – December 12, 1968) was an American actress. Primarily an actress of the stage, Bankhead also appeared in several prominent films including an award-winning performance in Alfred Hitchcock's ''Lif ...
. That performance did not receive screen credit, and this was often the case over Robinson's career, although he was in the billed main cast in '' Murder on the Campus'' (1934), '' Navy Secrets'' (1939) and '' There Goes Kelly'' (1945). Because of his size and physical presence, Robinson worked often during periods when gangster movies were the rage.Erickson, Hal
Allmovie biography
/ref> Notable early roles for Robinson include a polo-playing hood in '' Little Giant'' (1933) starring
Edward G. Robinson Edward G. Robinson (born Emanuel Goldenberg; December 12, 1893January 26, 1973) was a Romanian-American actor of stage and screen, who was popular during the Hollywood's Golden Age. He appeared in 30 Broadway plays and more than 100 films duri ...
, a supervisor of slaves in
Eddie Cantor Eddie Cantor (born Isidore Itzkowitz; January 31, 1892 – October 10, 1964) was an American comedian, actor, dancer, singer, songwriter, film producer, screenwriter and author. Familiar to Broadway, radio, movie, and early television audiences ...
's ''
Roman Scandals ''Roman Scandals'' is a 1933 American black-and-white pre-Code musical film starring Eddie Cantor, Ruth Etting, Gloria Stuart, Edward Arnold and David Manners. It was directed by Frank Tuttle. The film features a number of intricate productio ...
'' that same year, and the
Ben Turpin Bernard "Ben" Turpin (September 19, 1869 – July 1, 1940) was an American comedian and actor, best remembered for his work in silent films. His trademarks were his cross-eyed appearance and adeptness at vigorous physical comedy. Turpin wo ...
short '' Keystone Hotel'' in 1935. In the 1940s, Robinson was part of
Preston Sturges Preston Sturges (; born Edmund Preston Biden; August 29, 1898 – August 6, 1959) was an American playwright, screenwriter, and film director. In 1941, he won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for the film ''The Great McGinty'' (1940), his ...
' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in eight films written and directed by Sturges. In 1950, near the end of his career, Robinson played a Brooklyn Dodgers fan in '' The Jackie Robinson Story'' who progressed from bigotry to exuberant support of
Jackie Robinson Jack Roosevelt Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972) was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color lin ...
. Robinson died in
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, on December 11, 1950, from a
heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which m ...
, but because he worked so prolifically, films in which he appeared continued to be seen until 1952, when '' At Sword's Point'', a Musketeer adventure, was released. He was cremated.''Resting Places''
/ref>


Selected filmography

* '' Tarnished Lady'' (1931) as Tony the Waiter (uncredited) * ''
Enemies of the Law ''Enemies of the Law'' is a 1931 American crime film directed by Lawrence C. Windom and starring Mary Nolan, Johnnie Walker and Lou Tellegen.Wagner p.128 Cast * Mary Nolan as Florence Vinton * Johnnie Walker as Larry Marsh * Lou Tellegen as Eddi ...
'' (1931) as Tony Catello * '' Six Hours to Live'' (1932) * ''
The Woman from Monte Carlo ''The Woman from Monte Carlo'' is an American pre-Code film produced by Warner Bros. subsidiary First National Pictures (with the Vitaphone logo) in 1931 and released on January 9, 1932. It was directed by Michael Curtiz and gave top billing t ...
'' (1932) * '' Blonde Venus'' (1932) (uncredited) * '' The Big Broadcast'' (1932) * '' The Little Giant'' (1933) * ''
She Done Him Wrong ''She Done Him Wrong'' is a 1933 pre-Code American crime/comedy film starring Mae West and Cary Grant. The plot includes melodramatic and musical elements, with a supporting cast featuring Owen Moore, Gilbert Roland, Noah Beery Sr., Rochelle Hud ...
'' (1933) * '' Her Forgotten Past'' (1933) * ''
A Lady's Profession ''A Lady's Profession'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Norman Z. McLeod and written by Malcolm Stuart Boylan, Walter DeLeon and Nina Wilcox Putnam. The film stars Alison Skipworth, Roland Young, Sari Maritza, Kent Taylor, R ...
'' (1933) * '' Soldiers of the Storm'' (1933) * '' Laughing at Life'' (1933) * '' Notorious but Nice'' (1933) * ''
Roman Scandals ''Roman Scandals'' is a 1933 American black-and-white pre-Code musical film starring Eddie Cantor, Ruth Etting, Gloria Stuart, Edward Arnold and David Manners. It was directed by Frank Tuttle. The film features a number of intricate productio ...
'' (1933) * '' Shadows of Sing Sing'' (1933) * '' Murder on the Campus'' (1934) * '' The Big Shakedown'' (1934) * '' Student Tour'' (1934) as Huan Lu (uncredited) * '' Palooka from Paducah'' (1935, Short) * ''
One Run Elmer ''One Run Elmer'' is a 1935 American short comedy film featuring Buster Keaton, and directed by Charles Lamont. Plot Elmer is the owner of a gas station somewhere on the desert highway. One day a family of ruthless businessmen show up and erect ...
'' (1935, Short) * '' Pursuit'' (1935) * '' Keystone Hotel'' (1935, Short) * ''
A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict ...
'' (1935) * '' Too Tough to Kill'' (1935) * '' Missing Girls'' (1936) * '' All American Chump'' (1936) * ''
Slave Ship Slave ships were large cargo ships specially built or converted from the 17th to the 19th century for transporting slaves. Such ships were also known as "Guineamen" because the trade involved human trafficking to and from the Guinea coast i ...
'' (1937) * '' The 13th Man'' (1937) * '' New Faces of 1937'' (1937) * '' Marry the Girl'' (1937) * '' The Toast of New York'' (1937) * '' Navy Secrets'' (1939) * '' Sky Bandits'' (1940) * '' The Great McGinty'' (1940) * ''
Christmas in July Christmas in July, Christmas in Summer or Christmas in Winter is a second Christmas celebration held around the summer season, mainly during July. It is centered around Christmas-themed activities and entertainment, including small gatherings, se ...
'' (1940) (uncredited) * ''
Tin Pan Alley Tin Pan Alley was a collection of music publishers and songwriters in New York City that dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It originally referred to a specific place: West 28th Street ...
'' (1940) * '' Sullivan's Travels'' (1941) (uncredited) * '' Isle of Missing Men'' (1942) * ''
The Palm Beach Story ''The Palm Beach Story'' is a 1942 screwball comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges, and starring Claudette Colbert, Joel McCrea, Mary Astor and Rudy Vallée. Victor Young contributed the musical score, including a fast-paced var ...
'' (1942) * ''
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge ''Neath Brooklyn Bridge'' is a 1942 film released by Monogram Pictures. It is the eleventh installment in the ''East Side Kids'' series and one of the more dramatic films of the series, released at a time when they were making lighter, more humoro ...
'' (1942) * '' Casablanca'' (1942) as Bouncer at Rick's (uncredited) * ''
The Ghost Ship ''The Ghost Ship'' is a 1943 American black-and-white psychological thriller film, with elements of mystery and horror, directed by Mark Robson, starring Richard Dix and featuring Russell Wade, Edith Barrett, Ben Bard and Edmund Glover, along ...
'' (1943) * '' The Woman of the Town'' (1943) * '' Timber Queen'' (1944) * '' Trocadero'' (1944) * '' San Diego, I Love You'' (1944) * ''
Hail the Conquering Hero ''Hail the Conquering Hero'' (1944) is a satirical comedy-drama film written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring Eddie Bracken, Ella Raines and William Demarest, and featuring Raymond Walburn, Franklin Pangborn, Elizabeth Patterson, Bill ...
'' (1944) (uncredited) * '' Murder, My Sweet'' (1944) (uncredited) * '' The Great Moment'' (1944) (uncredited) * '' There Goes Kelly'' (1945) * ''
Fashion Model A model is a person with a role either to promote, display or advertise commercial products (notably fashion clothing in fashion shows) or to serve as a visual aid for people who are creating works of art or to pose for photography. Thoug ...
'' (1945) * ''
The Lady Confesses ''The Lady Confesses'' is a 1945 American film noir directed by Sam Newfield. Plot While on the verge of being divorced, Norma Craig disappears. Seven years later, when her husband, Larry Craig, plans to marry a girl Vicki McGuire, Norma returns ...
'' (1945) * ''
Stairway to Light ''Stairway to Light'' is a 1945 American short drama film directed by Sammy Lee. It was one of '' John Nesbitt's Passing Parade'' series. Set in Paris during the French Revolution, it tells the story of Philippe Pinel and his efforts in pointin ...
'' (1945 short) * '' Black Market Babies'' (1945) * '' Pardon My Past'' (1945) * '' The Bells of St. Mary's'' (1945) as Pedestrian (uncredited) * '' The Michigan Kid'' (1947) * '' Killer Dill'' (1947) * ''
The Checkered Coat ''The Checkered Coat'' is a 1948 American drama film directed by Edward L. Cahn and written by John C. Higgins. The film stars Tom Conway, Noreen Nash, Hurd Hatfield, James Seay, Garry Owen and Marten Lamont. The film was released on July 16, 194 ...
'' (1948) * '' River Lady'' (1948) * ''
The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend ''The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend'' is a 1949 romantic comedy Western film starring Betty Grable and featuring Cesar Romero and Rudy Vallee. It was directed by Preston Sturges and written by him based on a story by Earl Felton. Th ...
'' (1949) (uncredited) * '' Hellfire'' (1949) * '' Buccaneer's Girl'' (1950) * '' The Jackie Robinson Story'' (1950) (uncredited) * '' Father of the Bride'' (1950) as Moving Man with lamp (uncredited) * '' At War with the Army'' (1950) * '' Skipalong Rosenbloom'' (1951) * '' At Sword's Point'' (1952)


References


External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Dewey 1898 births 1950 deaths American male film actors American male stage actors Male actors from New Haven, Connecticut 20th-century American male actors