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Dewey Robinson (August 17, 1898 – December 11, 1950) was an American film character actor 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 134,02 ...
, in 1898, and made his
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
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 ...
's ''
Tarnished Lady ''Tarnished Lady'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Cukor and starring Tallulah Bankhead and Clive Brook. The screenplay by Donald Ogden Stewart is based on his short story, ''A Story of a New York Lady''. Plot Nancy ...
'', 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 '' L ...
. 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 ''Murder on the Campus'' is a 1933 American pre-Code mystery film directed by Richard Thorpe. The film is also known as ''On the Stroke of Nine'' in the United Kingdom. It is based on the novel ''The Campanile Murders'', by Whitman Chambers ( A ...
'' (1934), ''
Navy Secrets ''Navy Secrets'' is a 1939 American espionage film. Directed by Howard Bretherton, the film stars Fay Wray, Grant Withers, and Dewey Robinson. It was released on February 8, 1939. The screenplay by Harvey Gates was based on the short story "Shore ...
'' (1939) and ''
There Goes Kelly ''There Goes Kelly'' is a 1945 American comedy mystery film directed by Phil Karlson and starring Jackie Moran, Wanda McKay and Sidney Miller. It was produced and distributed by Monogram Pictures. It is a remake of the 1940 film '' Up in the Ai ...
'' (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 ''Little Giant'' is a 1946 American comedy drama film directed by William A. Seiter and starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. The film was released in the UK with the title ''On the Carpet''. Plot A naïve country boy named Benny Mil ...
'' (1933) starring Edward G. Robinson, a supervisor of slaves in Eddie Cantor'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 production ...
'' 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), h ...
' 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 ''The Jackie Robinson Story'' is a 1950 biographical film directed by Alfred E. Green (who had directed ''The Jolson Story'', "one of the biggest hits of the 40s") and starring Jackie Robinson as himself. The film focuses on Robinson's struggle ...
'' who progressed from bigotry to exuberant support of Jackie Robinson. 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 Vegas ...
, 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 may tr ...
, but because he worked so prolifically, films in which he appeared continued to be seen until 1952, when ''
At Sword's Point ''At Sword's Point'', also known as ''The Sons of the Three Musketeers'', is a 1952 American historical action adventure film directed by Lewis Allen and starring Cornel Wilde and Maureen O'Hara. It was shot in Technicolor by RKO Radio Pictur ...
'', a Musketeer adventure, was released. He was cremated.''Resting Places''
/ref>


Selected filmography

* ''
Tarnished Lady ''Tarnished Lady'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Cukor and starring Tallulah Bankhead and Clive Brook. The screenplay by Donald Ogden Stewart is based on his short story, ''A Story of a New York Lady''. Plot Nancy ...
'' (1931) as Tony the Waiter (uncredited) * '' Enemies of the Law'' (1931) as Tony Catello * ''
Six Hours to Live ''Six Hours to Live'' is a 1932 American pre-Code science fiction drama film directed by William Dieterle and starring Warner Baxter, Miriam Jordan and John Boles.Solomon p.336 Cast * Warner Baxter as Capt. Paul Onslow * Miriam Jordan as Ba ...
'' (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 to ...
'' (1932) * ''
Blonde Venus ''Blonde Venus'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film starring Marlene Dietrich, Herbert Marshall and Cary Grant. It was produced and directed by Josef von Sternberg from a screenplay by Jules Furthman and S. K. Lauren, adapted from a story b ...
'' (1932) (uncredited) * ''
The Big Broadcast ''The Big Broadcast'' is a 1932 American pre-Code musical comedy film directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Bing Crosby, Stuart Erwin, and Leila Hyams. Based on the play ''Wild Waves'' by William Ford Manley, the film is about a radio-sing ...
'' (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 Hu ...
'' (1933) * ''
Her Forgotten Past ''Her Forgotten Past'' is a 1933 American pre-Code mystery film directed by Wesley Ford and starring Monte Blue, Barbara Kent and Henry B. Walthall.Pitts p. 253 Synopsis Without telling her wealthy father, Doris Maynard marries the family chauff ...
'' (1933) * '' A Lady's Profession'' (1933) * ''
Soldiers of the Storm ''Soldiers of the Storm'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code crime film directed by D. Ross Lederman and starring Regis Toomey, Anita Page and Robert Ellis. Synopsis When a new airport opens in a town close to the Mexican border, the Border Patro ...
'' (1933) * ''
Laughing at Life ''Laughing at Life'' is a 1933 American pre-Code film directed by Ford Beebe. Plot summary Easter, a soldier of fortune and gunrunner, leaves his family behind escaping from the authorities and an American detective named Mason. His globe-ho ...
'' (1933) * ''
Notorious but Nice ''Notorious but Nice'' is a 1933 pre-Code American sound film drama directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Marian Marsh, Betty Compson and Don Dillaway. It was produced and distributed by B movie studio Chesterfield Motion Pictures. The film ...
'' (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 production ...
'' (1933) * ''
Shadows of Sing Sing ''Shadows of Sing Sing'' is a 1933 American pre-Code crime drama film, directed by Phil Rosen. It stars Mary Brian, Bruce Cabot, and Grant Mitchell, and was released on October 27, 1933. Cast list * Mary Brian as Muriel Ross, aka Muriel Ross ...
'' (1933) * ''
Murder on the Campus ''Murder on the Campus'' is a 1933 American pre-Code mystery film directed by Richard Thorpe. The film is also known as ''On the Stroke of Nine'' in the United Kingdom. It is based on the novel ''The Campanile Murders'', by Whitman Chambers ( A ...
'' (1934) * ''
The Big Shakedown ''The Big Shakedown'' is a 1934 American pre-Code drama film starring Charles Farrell and Bette Davis, and directed by John Francis Dillon. The screenplay is based on the story "Cut Rate" by Niven Busch and Samuel G. Engel. The film also stars ...
'' (1934) * '' Student Tour'' (1934) as Huan Lu (uncredited) * ''
Palooka from Paducah ''Palooka from Paducah'' is a 1935 American short comedy film featuring Buster Keaton. Plot The struggling Diltz family of farmers decide to set up their own wrestling company as a way to generate money. The father of the family (Joe Keaton) g ...
'' (1935, Short) * '' One Run Elmer'' (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 amon ...
'' (1935) * ''
Too Tough to Kill ''Too Tough to Kill'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by D. Ross Lederman and starring Victor Jory. Cast * Victor Jory as John O'Hara * Sally O'Neil as Ann Miller * Johnny Arthur as Willie Dent * Robert Gleckler as Bill Anderson * Mon ...
'' (1935) * ''
Missing Girls ''Missing Girls'' is a 1936 American film directed by Phil Rosen. Cast *Roger Pryor as Reporter Jimmie Dugan *Muriel Evans as Dorothy Benson * Sidney Blackmer as Dan Collins *Noel Madison as Ben Davis *Ann Doran as Ann Jason * George Cooper a ...
'' (1936) * ''
All American Chump ''All American Chump'' is a 1936 American comedy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, MGM, directed by Edwin L. Marin and written by Lawrence Kimble. The film stars Stuart Erwin, Robert Armstrong (actor), Robert Armstrong, Betty Furness, Edmund ...
'' (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 ...
'' (1937) * ''
The 13th Man ''The 13th Man'', also known as ''The Thirteenth Man'', is a 1937 American mystery film directed by William Nigh and starring Weldon Heyburn, Inez Courtney and Selmer Jackson. It was the first film released by the relaunched Monogram Pictures af ...
'' (1937) * ''
New Faces of 1937 ''New Faces of 1937'' is a 1937 American musical film directed by Leigh Jason and starring Joe Penner, Milton Berle and Harriet Hilliard. Its plot is similar to '' The Producers'' (1968). Intended as the first film of an annual RKO Pictures r ...
'' (1937) * '' Marry the Girl'' (1937) * ''
The Toast of New York ''The Toast of New York'' is a 1937 American biopic directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring Edward Arnold, Cary Grant, Frances Farmer, and Jack Oakie. The film is a fictionalized account of the lives of financiers James Fisk and Edward S. St ...
'' (1937) * ''
Navy Secrets ''Navy Secrets'' is a 1939 American espionage film. Directed by Howard Bretherton, the film stars Fay Wray, Grant Withers, and Dewey Robinson. It was released on February 8, 1939. The screenplay by Harvey Gates was based on the short story "Shore ...
'' (1939) * '' Sky Bandits'' (1940) * ''
The Great McGinty ''The Great McGinty'' is a 1940 political satire comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring Brian Donlevy and Akim Tamiroff and featuring William Demarest and (in her final screen appearance) Muriel Angelus. It was Sturges's fir ...
'' (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 ''Sullivan's Travels'' is a 1941 American comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges. A satire on the film industry, it follows a famous Hollywood comedy director (Joel McCrea) who, longing to make a socially relevant drama, sets out to ...
'' (1941) (uncredited) * ''
Isle of Missing Men ''Isle of Missing Men'' is a 1942 American drama film directed by Richard Oswald and starring John Howard, Helen Gilbert and Gilbert Roland. In the film, a young woman receives an invitation from the governor of an island prison to spend a week ...
'' (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 variati ...
'' (1942) * '' 'Neath Brooklyn Bridge'' (1942) * ''
Casablanca Casablanca, also known in Arabic as Dar al-Bayda ( ar, الدَّار الْبَيْضَاء, al-Dār al-Bayḍāʾ, ; ber, ⴹⴹⴰⵕⵍⴱⵉⴹⴰ, ḍḍaṛlbiḍa, : "White House") is the largest city in Morocco and the country's econom ...
'' (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, alo ...
'' (1943) * ''
The Woman of the Town ''The Woman of the Town'' is a 1943 American Western film directed by George Archainbaud and written by Aeneas MacKenzie. The film stars Claire Trevor, Albert Dekker, Barry Sullivan, Henry Hull, Porter Hall, Percy Kilbride and Clem Bevans. ...
'' (1943) * '' Timber Queen'' (1944) * '' Trocadero'' (1944) * ''
San Diego, I Love You ''San Diego, I Love You'' is a 1944 American comedy film directed by Reginald Le Borg and starring Jon Hall, Louise Allbritton and Edward Everett Horton.McLaughlin p.249 Synopsis Philip McCooley, a widowed high school teacher in small-town Cali ...
'' (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 ''Murder, My Sweet'' (released as ''Farewell, My Lovely'' in the United Kingdom) is a 1944 American film noir, directed by Edward Dmytryk and starring Dick Powell, Claire Trevor and Anne Shirley (in her final film before retirement). The film ...
'' (1944) (uncredited) * '' The Great Moment'' (1944) (uncredited) * ''
There Goes Kelly ''There Goes Kelly'' is a 1945 American comedy mystery film directed by Phil Karlson and starring Jackie Moran, Wanda McKay and Sidney Miller. It was produced and distributed by Monogram Pictures. It is a remake of the 1940 film '' Up in the Ai ...
'' (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'' (1945) * '' Stairway to Light'' (1945 short) * ''
Black Market Babies ''Black Market Babies'' is a 1945 American crime drama film directed by William Beaudine and released by Monogram Pictures. The film has been released on dvd. Plot A small-time hood teams up with an alcoholic obstetrician to set up a private ma ...
'' (1945) * ''
Pardon My Past ''Pardon My Past'' is a 1945 comedy film about a penniless veteran who gets mistaken for a millionaire by the latter's family and an unpaid Bookmaker, bookie. Plot Eddie York and Chuck Gibson are two ex-soldiers leaving the service to become mi ...
'' (1945) * ''
The Bells of St. Mary's ''The Bells of St. Mary's'' (1945) is an American musical comedy-drama film, produced and directed by Leo McCarey and starring Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman. Written by Dudley Nichols and based on a story by McCarey, the film is about a priest ...
'' (1945) as Pedestrian (uncredited) * ''
The Michigan Kid ''The Michigan Kid'' is a 1947 American Cinecolor Western film directed by Ray Taylor and starring Jon Hall, Victor McLaglen, Rita Johnson, and Andy Devine. It was Hall's first film after getting out of the army and filming began 15 April 1 ...
'' (1947) * ''
Killer Dill ''Killer Dill'' is a 1947 American film comedy directed by Lewis D. Collins set in 1931 during the Prohibition Era. Plot Lingerie salesman Johnny Dill loses girlfriend Judy Parker to his longtime friend, the charming lawyer William T. Allen. ...
'' (1947) * '' The Checkered Coat'' (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. The film ...
'' (1949) (uncredited) * '' Hellfire'' (1949) * ''
Buccaneer's Girl ''Buccaneer's Girl'' is a 1950 American Technicolor romantic adventure film directed by Frederick de Cordova starring Yvonne De Carlo and Philip Friend. Plot Deborah McCoy, a New Orleans singer, is on a ship that is captured by the forces of t ...
'' (1950) * ''
The Jackie Robinson Story ''The Jackie Robinson Story'' is a 1950 biographical film directed by Alfred E. Green (who had directed ''The Jolson Story'', "one of the biggest hits of the 40s") and starring Jackie Robinson as himself. The film focuses on Robinson's struggle ...
'' (1950) (uncredited) * ''
Father of the Bride The Father of the Bride is commonly one of the wedding ceremony participants. Father of the Bride may also refer to: * ''Father of the Bride'' (novel), 1949, by Edward Streeter ** ''Father of the Bride'' (franchise), media franchise based on the 1 ...
'' (1950) as Moving Man with lamp (uncredited) * ''
At War with the Army ''At War with the Army'' is a 1950 American musical comedy film directed by Hal Walker, released by Paramount, starring the comedy team of Martin and Lewis and introducing Polly Bergen. Filmed from July through August 1949, the film premiered i ...
'' (1950) * ''
Skipalong Rosenbloom ''Skipalong Rosenbloom'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Eddie Forman and Dean Riesner. Starring Max Rosenbloom, Max Baer, Jackie Coogan, Fuzzy Knight, Hillary Brooke and Jacqueline Fontaine, it was relea ...
'' (1951) * ''
At Sword's Point ''At Sword's Point'', also known as ''The Sons of the Three Musketeers'', is a 1952 American historical action adventure film directed by Lewis Allen and starring Cornel Wilde and Maureen O'Hara. It was shot in Technicolor by RKO Radio Pictur ...
'' (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