Edward Goldenberg Robinson
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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 Classical Hollywood cinema is a term used in film criticism to describe both a narrative and visual style of filmmaking which became characteristic of American cinema between the 1910s (rapidly after World War I) and the 1960s. It eventually be ...
. He appeared in 30 Broadway plays and more than 100 films during a 50-year career and is best remembered for his tough-guy roles as gangsters in such films as ''
Little Caesar Little Caesar may refer to: People * Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar, nicknamed Caesarion ("Little Caesar"), last pharaoh of Egypt, son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra * Little Caesar (singer) (1928-1994; birth name Harry Caesar) U.S. sing ...
'' and '' Key Largo''. During his career, Robinson received the
Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor The Best Actor Award (french: Prix d'interprétation masculine) is an award presented at the Cannes Film Festival since 1946. It is given to an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance and chosen by the jury from the films in official co ...
for his performance in '' House of Strangers''. During the 1930s and 1940s, he was an outspoken public critic of fascism and Nazism, which were growing in strength in Europe in the years which led up to World War II. His activism included contributing over $250,000 to more than 850 organizations which were involved in war relief, along with contributions to cultural, educational and religious groups. During the 1950s, he was called to testify in front of the
House Un-American Activities Committee The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HCUA), popularly dubbed the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives, created in 1938 to investigate alleged disloy ...
during the
Red Scare A Red Scare is the promotion of a widespread fear of a potential rise of communism, anarchism or other leftist ideologies by a society or state. The term is most often used to refer to two periods in the history of the United States which ar ...
, but he was cleared of any deliberate
Communist Communism (from Latin la, communis, lit=common, universal, label=none) is a far-left sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology and current within the socialist movement whose goal is the establishment of a communist society, a s ...
involvement when he claimed that he was "duped" by several people whom he named (including screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, according to the official Congressional record, "Communist infiltration of the Hollywood motion-picture industry"). As a result of being investigated, he found himself on Hollywood's graylist, people who were on the Hollywood blacklist maintained by the major studios, but could find work at minor film studios on what was called Poverty Row. Robinson's roles included an insurance investigator in the
film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American ' ...
''
Double Indemnity ''Double Indemnity'' is a 1944 American crime film noir directed by Billy Wilder, co-written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler, and produced by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Sistrom. The screenplay was based on James M. Cain's 1943 novel of the same ...
'', Dathan (the adversary of
Moses Moses hbo, מֹשֶׁה, Mōše; also known as Moshe or Moshe Rabbeinu (Mishnaic Hebrew: מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ, ); syr, ܡܘܫܐ, Mūše; ar, موسى, Mūsā; grc, Mωϋσῆς, Mōÿsēs () is considered the most important pro ...
) in '' The Ten Commandments'', and his final performance in the science-fiction story '' Soylent Green''.Obituary '' Variety'', January 31, 1973, p. 71. Robinson received an
Academy Honorary Award The Academy Honorary Award – instituted in 1950 for the 23rd Academy Awards (previously called the Special Award, which was first presented at the 1st Academy Awards in 1929) – is given annually by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Moti ...
for his work in the film industry, which was awarded two months after he died in 1973. He is ranked number 24 in the
American Film Institute The American Film Institute (AFI) is an American nonprofit film organization that educates filmmakers and honors the heritage of the motion picture arts in the United States. AFI is supported by private funding and public membership fees. Leade ...
's list of the 25 greatest male stars of Classic American cinema. Multiple film critics and media outlets have cited him as one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination.


Early years and education

Robinson's original name was Menashe Goldenberg. He was born into a
Yiddish Yiddish (, or , ''yidish'' or ''idish'', , ; , ''Yidish-Taytsh'', ) is a West Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. It originated during the 9th century in Central Europe, providing the nascent Ashkenazi community with a ver ...
-speaking Romanian Jewish family in Bucharest, the son of Sarah (née Guttman) and Yeshaya Moyshe Goldenberg (later called Morris in the US), a builder. According to the ''New York Times'', one of his brothers was attacked by an
anti-semitic Antisemitism (also spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism) is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who holds such positions is called an antisemite. Antisemitism is considered to be a form of racism. Antis ...
gang during a "schoolboy pogrom." In the wake of that violence, the family decided to emigrate to the United States. Robinson arrived in New York City on February 21, 1904. "At Ellis Island I was born again," he wrote. "Life for me began when I was 10 years old." In America, he assumed the name of Emanuel. He grew up on the
Lower East Side The Lower East Side, sometimes abbreviated as LES, is a historic neighborhood in the southeastern part of Manhattan in New York City. It is located roughly between the Bowery and the East River from Canal to Houston streets. Traditionally an im ...
, and had his Bar Mitzvah at First Roumanian-American Congregation. Epstein (2007), p. 249 He attended Townsend Harris High School and then the
City College of New York The City College of the City University of New York (also known as the City College of New York, or simply City College or CCNY) is a public university within the City University of New York (CUNY) system in New York City. Founded in 1847, Cit ...
, planning to become a criminal attorney.Pendergast, Tom. Ed. ''St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture'', Vol. 4, pp. 229–230 An interest in acting and performing in front of people led to him winning an
American Academy of Dramatic Arts The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) is a private performing arts conservatory with two locations, one in Manhattan and one in Los Angeles. The academy offers an associate degree in occupational studies and teaches drama and related art ...
scholarship, after which he changed his name to ''Edward G. Robinson'' (the G. standing for his original
surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...
). He served in the United States Navy during World War I, but was never sent overseas.


Career


Theatre

He began his acting career in the
Yiddish Theatre District The Yiddish Theatre District, also called the Jewish Rialto and the Yiddish Realto, was the center of New York City's Yiddish theatre scene in the early 20th century. It was located primarily on Second Avenue, though it extended to Avenue B, b ...
in 1913, he made his Broadway debut in 1915. He made his film debut in '' Arms and the Woman'' (1916). In 1923, he made his named debut as ''E.G. Robinson'' in the silent film, ''
The Bright Shawl ''The Bright Shawl'' is a 1923 American silent historical drama film directed by John S. Robertson and produced by and starring Richard Barthelmess. This film, based on a novel by Joseph Hergesheimer, had several days of filming on location i ...
''.


''The Racket''

He played a snarling gangster in the 1927 Broadway police/crime drama '' The Racket'', which led to his being cast in similar film roles, beginning with '' The Hole in the Wall'' (1929) with Claudette Colbert for Paramount. One of many actors who saw their careers flourish rather than falter in the new sound film era, he made only three films prior to 1930, but left his stage career that year and made 14 films between 1930 and 1932. Robinson went to Universal for '' Night Ride'' (1930) and MGM for '' A Lady to Love'' (1930) directed by Victor Sjöström. At Universal he was in '' Outside the Law'' and '' East Is West'' (both 1930), then he did '' The Widow from Chicago'' (1931) at First National.


''Little Caesar''

At this point, Robinson was becoming an established film actor. What began his rise to stardom was an acclaimed performance as the gangster Caesar Enrico "Rico" Bandello in ''
Little Caesar Little Caesar may refer to: People * Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar, nicknamed Caesarion ("Little Caesar"), last pharaoh of Egypt, son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra * Little Caesar (singer) (1928-1994; birth name Harry Caesar) U.S. sing ...
'' (1931) at Warner Bros. Robinson signed a long-term contract with Warners Bros., casting him in another gangster film, '' Smart Money'' (1931), his only movie with
James Cagney James Francis Cagney Jr. (; July 17, 1899March 30, 1986) was an American actor, dancer and film director. On stage and in film, Cagney was known for his consistently energetic performances, distinctive vocal style, and deadpan comic timing. He ...
. He was reunited with
Mervyn LeRoy Mervyn LeRoy (; October 15, 1900 – September 13, 1987) was an American film director and producer. In his youth he played juvenile roles in vaudeville and silent film comedies. During the 1930s, LeRoy was one of the two great practitioners of ...
, director of ''Little Caesar'', in '' Five Star Final'' (1931), playing a journalist, and played a Tong gangster in ''
The Hatchet Man ''The Hatchet Man'' (1932) is a pre-Code film directed by William A. Wellman and starring Edward G. Robinson. Warner Bros. had purchased the David Belasco/ Achmed Abdullah play ''The Honorable Mr. Wong'' about the Tong gang wars. Made durin ...
'' (1932). Robinson made a third film with LeRoy, '' Two Seconds'' (1932) then did a melodrama directed by
Howard Hawks Howard Winchester Hawks (May 30, 1896December 26, 1977) was an American film director, producer and screenwriter of the classic Hollywood era. Critic Leonard Maltin called him "the greatest American director who is not a household name." A v ...
, '' Tiger Shark'' (1932). Warners tried him in a biopic, '' Silver Dollar'' (1932), where Robinson played Horace Tabor, a comedy, '' The Little Giant'' (1933) and a romance, ''
I Loved a Woman ''I Loved a Woman'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama directed by Alfred E. Green, starring Kay Francis, Edward G. Robinson, and Genevieve Tobin. According to producer Hal Wallis' autobiography (with Charles Higham), Robinson and Francis "were ...
'' (1933). Robinson was then in '' Dark Hazard'' (1934), and '' The Man with Two Faces'' (1934). He went to Columbia for '' The Whole Town's Talking'' (1935), a comedy directed by John Ford. Sam Goldwyn borrowed him for '' Barbary Coast'' (1935), again directed by Hawks. Back at Warners he did '' Bullets or Ballots'' (1936) then he went to Britain for '' Thunder in the City'' (1937). He made '' Kid Galahad'' (1937) with Bette Davis and
Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film In ...
. MGM borrowed him for '' The Last Gangster'' (1937) then he did a comedy '' A Slight Case of Murder'' (1938). Again with Bogart in a supporting role, he was in ''
The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse ''The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse'' is a 1938 American crime film directed by Anatole Litvak and starring Edward G. Robinson, Claire Trevor and Humphrey Bogart. It was distributed by Warner Bros. and written by John Wexley and John Huston, based o ...
'' (1938) then he was borrowed by Columbia for '' I Am the Law'' (1938).


World War II

At the time World War II broke out in Europe, he played an FBI agent in '' Confessions of a Nazi Spy'' (1939), the first American film which portrayed Nazism as a threat to the United States. He volunteered for military service in June 1942 but was disqualified due to his age which was 48,Wise, James: ''Stars in Khaki: Movie Actors in the Army and Air Services''. Naval Institute Press, 2000. . p. 228. although he became an active and vocal critic of fascism and Nazism during that period. MGM borrowed him for ''
Blackmail Blackmail is an act of coercion using the threat of revealing or publicizing either substantially true or false information about a person or people unless certain demands are met. It is often damaging information, and it may be revealed to fa ...
'', (1939). Then to avoid being typecast he played the biomedical scientist and Nobel laureate Paul Ehrlich in ''
Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet ''Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet'' is a 1940 American biographical film directed by William Dieterle and starring Edward G. Robinson, based on the true story of the German doctor and scientist Dr. Paul Ehrlich. The film was released by Warner Bros., ...
'' (1940) and played Paul Julius Reuter in ''
A Dispatch from Reuter's ''A Dispatch from Reuters'' is a 1940 biographical film about Paul Reuter, the man who built the famous news service that bears his name.''Harrison's Reports'' review; November 2, 1940, page 174. Story behind Reuters Paul Reuter starts a messe ...
'' (1940).Schatz, Thomas. ''Boom and Bust: American Cinema in the 1940s''. University of California Press, November 23, 1999, p. 99. Both films were biographies of prominent Jewish public figures. In between, he and Bogart starred in ''
Brother Orchid ''Brother Orchid'' is a 1940 American crime/comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Edward G. Robinson, Ann Sothern and Humphrey Bogart, with featured performances by Donald Crisp, Ralph Bellamy and Allen Jenkins. The screenplay was wri ...
'' (1940). Robinson was teamed up with John Garfield in '' The Sea Wolf'' (1941) and
George Raft George Raft (born George Ranft; September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, Raft is ...
in '' Manpower'' (1941). He went to MGM for '' Unholy Partners'' (1942) and made a comedy ''
Larceny, Inc. ''Larceny, Inc.'' is a 1942 American film. Originally released on May 2, 1942, by Warner Bros., the film is a cross between comedy and gangster genres. Directed by Lloyd Bacon, the film stars Edward G. Robinson, Jane Wyman, Broderick Crawford, a ...
'' (1942).


Post-Warner Bros.

Robinson was one of several stars in '' Tales of Manhattan'' (1942) and ''
Flesh and Fantasy ''Flesh and Fantasy'' is a 1943 American anthology film directed by Julien Duvivier and starring Edward G. Robinson, Charles Boyer, Robert Cummings, and Barbara Stanwyck. The making of this film was inspired by the success of Duvivier's previous ...
'' (1943). He did war films: ''
Destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...
'' (1943) at
Columbia Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region in ...
, and '' Tampico'' (1944) at
Fox Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush''). Twelv ...
. At Paramount he was in Billy Wilder's ''
Double Indemnity ''Double Indemnity'' is a 1944 American crime film noir directed by Billy Wilder, co-written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler, and produced by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Sistrom. The screenplay was based on James M. Cain's 1943 novel of the same ...
'' (1944) with
Fred MacMurray Frederick Martin MacMurray (August 30, 1908 – November 5, 1991) was an American actor. He appeared in more than one hundred films and a successful television series, in a career that spanned nearly a half-century. His career as a major film le ...
and
Barbara Stanwyck Barbara Stanwyck (; born Ruby Catherine Stevens; July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was an American actress, model and dancer. A stage, film, and television star, during her 60-year professional career she was known for her strong, realistic sc ...
where his riveting soliloquy on insurance actuarial tables (written by
Raymond Chandler Raymond Thornton Chandler (July 23, 1888 – March 26, 1959) was an American-British novelist and screenwriter. In 1932, at the age of forty-four, Chandler became a detective fiction writer after losing his job as an oil company executive durin ...
) is considered a career showstopper, and at Columbia he was in '' Mr. Winkle Goes to War'' (1944). He then performed with Joan Bennett and Dan Duryea in Fritz Lang's '' The Woman in the Window'' (1944) and '' Scarlet Street'' (1945) where he played a criminal painter. At MGM he was in '' Our Vines Have Tender Grapes'' (1945), and then Orson Welles' '' The Stranger'' (1946), with Welles and Loretta Young. Robinson followed it with another thriller, '' The Red House'' (1947), and starred in an adaptation of ''
All My Sons ''All My Sons'' is a three-act play written in 1946 by Arthur Miller. It opened on Broadway at the Coronet Theatre in New York City on January 29, 1947, closed on November 8, 1949, and ran for 328 performances. It was directed by Elia Kazan (t ...
'' (1948). Robinson appeared for director
John Huston John Marcellus Huston ( ; August 5, 1906 – August 28, 1987) was an American film director, screenwriter, actor and visual artist. He wrote the screenplays for most of the 37 feature films he directed, many of which are today considered ...
as the gangster Johnny Rocco in '' Key Largo'' (1948), the last of five films which he made with
Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film In ...
and the only one in which Bogart did not play a supporting role. Around the same time, he was cast in starring roles for '' Night Has a Thousand Eyes'' (1948) and '' House of Strangers'' (1949).


Greylisting

Robinson found it hard to get work after his greylisting. He starred in low budget films: '' Actors and Sin'' (1952), '' Vice Squad'' (1953) with brief appearances by second-billed Paulette Goddard, ''
Big Leaguer ''Big Leaguer'' is a 1953 American sports film, sports drama (film and television), drama film starring Edward G. Robinson and was the first film directed by Robert Aldrich. Although this story is fiction, Robinson's character in it, Hans Lobert, ...
'' (1953) with Vera-Ellen, '' The Glass Web'' (1953) with John Forsythe, '' Black Tuesday'' (1954) with Peter Graves, ''
The Violent Men ''The Violent Men'' is a 1955 American Western film directed by Rudolph Maté and starring Glenn Ford, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, Dianne Foster, Brian Keith, and May Wynn. Based on the 1955 novel '' Smoky Valley'' by Donald Hamil ...
'' (1955) with Glenn Ford and
Barbara Stanwyck Barbara Stanwyck (; born Ruby Catherine Stevens; July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was an American actress, model and dancer. A stage, film, and television star, during her 60-year professional career she was known for her strong, realistic sc ...
, the well-received ''
Tight Spot ''Tight Spot'' is a 1955 American film noir crime film directed by Phil Karlson and starring Ginger Rogers, Edward G. Robinson and Brian Keith. The story was inspired by Senator Estes Kefauver's tactics in coercing Virginia Hill to testify in ...
'' (1955) with Ginger Rogers and Brian Keith, ''
A Bullet for Joey ''A Bullet for Joey'' is a 1955 film noir directed by Lewis Allen and starring Edward G. Robinson and George Raft. The picture involves a gangster who sneaks into Canada to kidnap a scientist for the communists. The supporting cast features ...
'' (1955) with
George Raft George Raft (born George Ranft; September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, Raft is ...
, ''
Illegal Illegal, or unlawful, typically describes something that is explicitly prohibited by law, or is otherwise forbidden by a state or other governing body. Illegal may also refer to: Law * Violation of law * Crime, the practice of breaking the cr ...
'' (1955) with Nina Foch, and '' Hell on Frisco Bay'' (1956) with
Alan Ladd Alan Walbridge Ladd (September 3, 1913 – January 29, 1964) was an American actor and film producer. Ladd found success in film in the 1940s and early 1950s, particularly in films noir and Westerns. He was often paired with Veronica Lake ...
. His career's rehabilitation received a boost in 1954, when the
anti-communist Anti-communism is Political movement, political and Ideology, ideological opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed after the 1917 October Revolution in the Russian Empire, and it reached global dimensions during the Cold War, w ...
film director Cecil B. DeMille cast him as the traitorous Dathan in '' The Ten Commandments''. The film was released in 1956, as was his psychological thriller ''
Nightmare A nightmare, also known as a bad dream, Retrieved 11 July 2016. is an unpleasant dream that can cause a strong emotional response from the mind, typically fear but also despair, anxiety or great sadness. The dream may contain situations of d ...
''. After a subsequent short absence from the screen, Robinson's film career—augmented by an increasing number of television roles—restarted in 1958/59, when he was second-billed after Frank Sinatra in the 1959 release ''
A Hole in the Head ''A Hole in the Head'' (1959) is a DeLuxe Color comedy film, shown in CinemaScope, directed by Frank Capra, featuring Frank Sinatra, Edward G. Robinson, Eleanor Parker, Keenan Wynn, Carolyn Jones, Thelma Ritter, Dub Taylor, Ruby Dandridge, ...
''.


Supporting actor

Robinson went to Europe for '' Seven Thieves'' (1960). He had support roles in '' My Geisha'' (1962), '' Two Weeks in Another Town'' (1962), '' Sammy Going South'' (1963), ''
The Prize The Prize may refer to: * ''The Prize'' (novel), a 1962 novel by Irving Wallace ** ''The Prize'' (1963 film), a 1963 film based on the novel * ''The Prize'' (1950 film), a 1950 French film * ''The Prize'' (2011 film), a 2011 Mexican film * * ...
'' (1963), ''
Robin and the 7 Hoods ''Robin and the 7 Hoods'' is a 1964 American musical film directed by Gordon Douglas and starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Bing Crosby. The picture features Peter Falk, Barbara Rush, and an uncredited Edward G. Rob ...
'' (1964), ''
Good Neighbor Sam ''Good Neighbor Sam'' is a 1964 American Eastman Color screwball comedy film co-written and directed by David Swift, based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Jack Finney. The film stars Jack Lemmon, Romy Schneider, Dorothy Provine, Michael C ...
'' (1964), ''
Cheyenne Autumn ''Cheyenne Autumn'' is a 1964 American epic Western film starring Richard Widmark, Carroll Baker, James Stewart, and Edward G. Robinson. It tells the story of a factual event, the Northern Cheyenne Exodus of 1878–79, told in "Hollywood style ...
'' (1964), and '' The Outrage'' (1964). He was second-billed under
Steve McQueen Terrence Stephen McQueen (March 24, 1930November 7, 1980) was an American actor. His antihero persona, emphasized during the height of the counterculture of the 1960s, made him a top box-office draw for his films of the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1 ...
with his name above the title in '' The Cincinnati Kid'' (1965; McQueen had idolized Robinson while growing up and opted for him when Spencer Tracy insisted on top billing for the same role), and was top billed in '' The Blonde from Peking''. He also appeared in '' Grand Slam'' (1967) starring Janet Leigh and
Klaus Kinski Klaus Kinski (, born Klaus Günter Karl Nakszynski 18 October 1926 – 23 November 1991) was a German actor, equally renowned for his intense performance style and notorious for his volatile personality. He appeared in over 130 film roles in a c ...
. Robinson was originally cast in the role of Dr. Zaius in '' Planet Of The Apes'' (1968) and he even went so far as to film a screen test with
Charlton Heston Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter; October 4, 1923April 5, 2008) was an American actor and political activist. As a Hollywood star, he appeared in almost 100 films over the course of 60 years. He played Moses in the epic film ''The Ten C ...
. However, Robinson dropped out of the project before its production began due to heart problems and concerns over the long hours which he would have needed to spend under the heavy ape makeup. He was replaced by Maurice Evans. His later appearances included '' The Biggest Bundle of Them All'' (1968) starring Robert Wagner and Raquel Welch, '' Never a Dull Moment'' (1968) with
Dick Van Dyke Richard Wayne Van Dyke (born December 13, 1925) is an American actor, entertainer and comedian. His award-winning career has spanned seven decades in film, television, and stage. Van Dyke began his career as an entertainer on radio and telev ...
, '' It's Your Move'' (1968), '' Mackenna's Gold'' (1969) starring
Gregory Peck Eldred Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003) was an American actor and one of the most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1970s. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Peck the 12th-greatest male star of Classic Hollywood ...
and
Omar Sharif Omar Sharif ( ar, عمر الشريف ; born Michel Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub , 10 April 193210 July 2015) was an Egyptian actor, generally regarded as one of his country's greatest male film stars. He began his career in his native country in the ...
, and the '' Night Gallery'' episode “The Messiah on Mott Street" (1971). The last scene which Robinson filmed was a
euthanasia Euthanasia (from el, εὐθανασία 'good death': εὖ, ''eu'' 'well, good' + θάνατος, ''thanatos'' 'death') is the practice of intentionally ending life to eliminate pain and suffering. Different countries have different eut ...
sequence, with his friend and co-star
Charlton Heston Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter; October 4, 1923April 5, 2008) was an American actor and political activist. As a Hollywood star, he appeared in almost 100 films over the course of 60 years. He played Moses in the epic film ''The Ten C ...
, in the science fiction film '' Soylent Green'' (1973); he died 84 days later. Heston, as president of the Screen Actors Guild, presented Robinson with its annual award in 1969, "in recognition of his pioneering work in organizing the union, his service during World War II, and his 'outstanding achievement in fostering the finest ideals of the acting profession.'" Robinson was never nominated for an Academy Award, but in 1973 he was awarded an honorary Oscar in recognition that he had "achieved greatness as a player, a patron of the arts and a dedicated citizen ... in sum, a Renaissance man". He had been notified of the honor, but he died two months before the award ceremony took place, so the award was accepted by his widow, Jane Robinson.


Radio

From 1937 to 1942, Robinson starred as Steve Wilson, editor of the ''Illustrated Press'', in the newspaper drama '' Big Town''. He also portrayed hardboiled detective
Sam Spade Sam Spade is a fictional character and the protagonist of Dashiell Hammett's 1930 novel '' The Maltese Falcon''. Spade also appeared in four lesser-known short stories by Hammett. ''The Maltese Falcon'', first published as a serial in the pulp ...
for a Lux Radio Theatre adaptation of '' The Maltese Falcon''. During the 1940s he also performed on CBS Radio's "Cadena de las Américas" network broadcasts to South America in collaboration with
Nelson Rockefeller Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller (July 8, 1908 – January 26, 1979), sometimes referred to by his nickname Rocky, was an American businessman and politician who served as the 41st vice president of the United States from 1974 to 1977. A member of t ...
's
cultural diplomacy Cultural diplomacy is a type of public diplomacy and soft power that includes the "exchange of ideas, information, art, language and other aspects of culture among nations and their peoples in order to foster mutual understanding". The purpose ...
program at the U.S. State Department's Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs.''Dissonant Divas in Chicana Music: The Limits of La Onda''
Deborah R. Vargas. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 2012 p. 152-153 Edward G. Robbinson, OCIAA, CBS radio, Pan-americanism and Cadena de las Americas on google.books.com


Political activism

During the 1930s, Robinson was an outspoken public critic of fascism and Nazism, donating more than $250,000 to 850 political and charitable organizations between 1939 and 1949. He was host to the ''Committee of 56'' which gathered at his home on December 9, 1938, signing a "Declaration of Democratic Independence" which called for a boycott of all German-made products.Ross, pp
99–102
/ref> After the
Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union Operation Barbarossa (german: link=no, Unternehmen Barbarossa; ) was the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany and many of its Axis allies, starting on Sunday, 22 June 1941, during World War II, the Second World War. The operation, code ...
, while he was not a supporter of Communism, he appeared at Soviet war relief rallies in order to give moral aid to America's new ally, which he said could join "together in their hatred of Hitlerism". Although he attempted to enlist in the military when the United States formally entered World War II, he was unable to do so because of his age; instead, the Office of War Information appointed him as a Special Representative based in London. From there, taking advantage of his multilingual skills, he delivered radio addresses in over six languages to European countries which had fallen under Nazi domination. His talent as a radio speaker in the U.S. had previously been recognized by the
American Legion The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is a non-profit organization of U.S. war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militi ...
, which had given him an award for his "outstanding contribution to Americanism through his stirring patriotic appeals". Robinson was also an active member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, serving on its executive board in 1944, during which time he became an "enthusiastic" campaigner for Roosevelt's reelection that same year. During the 1940s, Robinson also contributed to the
cultural diplomacy Cultural diplomacy is a type of public diplomacy and soft power that includes the "exchange of ideas, information, art, language and other aspects of culture among nations and their peoples in order to foster mutual understanding". The purpose ...
initiatives of Roosevelt's Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs in support of Pan-Americanism through his broadcasts to South America on the CBS "Cadena da las Américas" radio network. In early July 1944, less than a month after the
Invasion of Normandy Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful invasion of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II. The operation was launched on 6 June 1944 (D-Day) with the Norm ...
by Allied forces, Robinson traveled to Normandy to entertain the troops, becoming the first movie star to go there for the USO. He personally donated $100,000 ($1,500,000 in 2015 dollars) to the USO. After returning to the U.S., he continued his active involvement in the war effort by going to shipyards and defense plants in order to inspire workers, in addition to appearing at rallies in order to help sell war bonds. After the war ended, Robinson publicly spoke out in support of democratic rights for all Americans, especially in demanding equality for Blacks in the workplace. He endorsed the Fair Employment Practices Commission's call to end workplace discrimination. Black leaders praised him as "one of the great friends of the Negro and a great advocator of Democracy". Robinson also campaigned for the civil rights of African Americans, helping many people to overcome segregation and
discrimination Discrimination is the act of making unjustified distinctions between people based on the groups, classes, or other categories to which they belong or are perceived to belong. People may be discriminated on the basis of race, gender, age, relig ...
. During the years when Robinson spoke out against fascism and Nazism, he was not a supporter of Communism, but he did not criticize the Soviet Union, which he saw as an ally against Hitler. However, the film historian Steven J. Ross observes "activists who attacked Hitler without simultaneously attacking Stalin were vilified by conservative critics as either Communists, Communist dupes, or, at best, as naive liberal dupes." In addition, Robinson learned that 11 out of the more than 850 charities and groups which he had helped over the previous decade were listed as Communist front organizations by the FBI. As a result, he was called to testify in front of the
House Un-American Activities Committee The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HCUA), popularly dubbed the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives, created in 1938 to investigate alleged disloy ...
(HUAC) in 1950 and 1952 and he was also threatened with
blacklisting Blacklisting is the action of a group or authority compiling a blacklist (or black list) of people, countries or other entities to be avoided or distrusted as being deemed unacceptable to those making the list. If someone is on a blacklist, t ...
.Sabin, Arthur J. ''In Calmer Times: The Supreme Court and Red Monday'', p. 35. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999 As it appears in the ful
House Un-American Activities Committee transcript
for April 30, 1952, Robinson " named names" of Communist sympathizers ( Albert Maltz, Dalton Trumbo, John Howard Lawson,
Frank Tuttle Frank Wright Tuttle (August 6, 1892 – January 6, 1963) was a Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film director and writer who directed films from 1922 (''The Cradle Buster'') to 1959 (''Island of Lost Women''). Biography Frank Tuttle wa ...
, and
Sidney Buchman Sidney Robert Buchman (March 27, 1902 – August 23, 1975) was an American screenwriter and film producer who worked on about 40 films from the late 1920s to the early 1970s. He received four Oscar nominations and won once for Best Screenplay ...
) and repudiated some of the organizations which he had belonged to in the 1930s and 1940s. He came to realize, "I was duped and used." His own name was cleared, but in the aftermath, his career noticeably suffered, because he was offered smaller roles and they were offered to him less frequently. In October 1952, he wrote an article titled "How the Reds made a Sucker Out of Me", and it was published in the ''American Legion Magazine.'' The chair of the committee,
Francis E. Walter Francis Eugene Walter (May 26, 1894 – May 31, 1963) was a Democratic Party (United States), Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Walter was a prominent member of the House Un-American Activities Committee ...
, told Robinson at the end of his testimonies that the Committee "never had any evidence presented to indicate that you were anything more than a very choice sucker."


Personal life

Robinson was married twice, first to stage actress Gladys Lloyd, born Gladys Lloyd Cassell, in 1927; she was the former wife of Ralph L. Vestervelt and the daughter of Clement C. Cassell, an architect, sculptor and artist. The couple had one son, Edward G. Robinson, Jr. (a.k.a. Manny Robinson, 1933–1974), as well as a daughter from Gladys Robinson's first marriage. In 1956, the couple divorced. In 1958, he married Jane Bodenheimer, a dress designer professionally known as Jane Arden. Thereafter he also maintained a home in
Palm Springs, California Palm Springs (Cahuilla: ''Séc-he'') is a desert resort city in Riverside County, California, United States, within the Colorado Desert's Coachella Valley. The city covers approximately , making it the largest city in Riverside County by land a ...
. In noticeable contrast to many of his onscreen characters, Robinson was a sensitive, soft-spoken and cultured man who spoke seven languages. Remaining a liberal Democrat, he attended the 1960 Democratic Convention in Los Angeles, California. He was a passionate art collector, eventually building up a significant private
collection Collection or Collections may refer to: * Cash collection, the function of an accounts receivable department * Collection (church), money donated by the congregation during a church service * Collection agency, agency to collect cash * Collectio ...
. In 1956, however, he was forced to sell his collection to pay for his divorce settlement with Gladys Robinson; his finances had also suffered due to underemployment in the early 1950s.


Death

Robinson died of bladder cancer at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles on January 26, 1973. Services were held at Temple Israel in Los Angeles where
Charlton Heston Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter; October 4, 1923April 5, 2008) was an American actor and political activist. As a Hollywood star, he appeared in almost 100 films over the course of 60 years. He played Moses in the epic film ''The Ten C ...
delivered the eulogy.Beck, Robert. ''The Edward G. Robinson Encyclopedia'', McFarland (2002) Over 1,500 friends of Robinson attended with another 500 crowded outside. His body was then flown to New York where it was entombed in a crypt in the family mausoleum at Beth-El Cemetery in Brooklyn. Among his pallbearers were
Jack L. Warner Jack Leonard Warner (born Jacob Warner; August 2, 1892 – September 9, 1978) was a Canadian-American film executive, who was the president and driving force behind the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California. Warner's career spanned some ...
, Hal B. Wallis,
Mervyn LeRoy Mervyn LeRoy (; October 15, 1900 – September 13, 1987) was an American film director and producer. In his youth he played juvenile roles in vaudeville and silent film comedies. During the 1930s, LeRoy was one of the two great practitioners of ...
, George Burns,
Sam Jaffe Shalom "Sam" Jaffe (March 10, 1891 – March 24, 1984) was an American actor, teacher, musician, and engineer. In 1951, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in ''The Asphalt Jungle'' (1950) and app ...
, and
Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...
.


In popular culture

In October 2000, Robinson's image was imprinted on a U.S. postage stamp, its sixth in its Legends of Hollywood series. Robinson has been the inspiration for a number of animated television characters, usually caricatures of his most distinctive 'snarling gangster' guise. An early version of the gangster character Rocky, featured in the Bugs Bunny cartoon '' Racketeer Rabbit'', shared his likeness. This version of the character also appears briefly in '' Justice League'', in the episode "Comfort and Joy", as an alien with Robinson's face and non-human body, who hovers past the screen as a background character. Similar caricatures also appeared in ''
The Coo-Coo Nut Grove ''The CooCoo Nut Grove'' is a 1936 Warner Bros. ''Merrie Melodies'' short animated film, set in the famed Cocoanut Grove of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. The cartoon was directed by Friz Freleng, with animation by Robert McKimson and San ...
'', ''
Thugs with Dirty Mugs ''Thugs with Dirty Mugs'' is a 1939 Warner Bros. '' Merrie Melodies'' cartoon directed by Tex Avery. The short was released on May 6, 1939. The title is derived from the Warner Bros.' 1938 acclaimed feature film, ''Angels with Dirty Faces''. It i ...
'' and ''
Hush My Mouse Hush may refer to: Film and television * ''Hush'' (1921 film), starring Clara Kimball Young * ''Hush'' (1998 film), starring Gwyneth Paltrow * ''Hush!'' (film), a 2001 Japanese film directed by Ryosuke Hashiguchi * ''Hush'' (2005 film), starring ...
''. Another character based on Robinson's tough-guy image was The Frog (Chauncey "Flat Face" Frog) from the cartoon series ''
Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse ''Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse'', is a 1960 children's cartoon television show, that was produced by Trans-Artists Productions, and syndicated by Tele Features Inc. The characters were originated and created by authors Bob Kane and Gerald J. ...
''. The voice of B.B. Eyes in '' The Dick Tracy Show'' was based on Robinson, with
Mel Blanc Melvin Jerome Blanc (born Blank ; May 30, 1908July 10, 1989) was an American voice actor and radio personality whose career spanned over 60 years. During the Golden Age of Radio, he provided character voices and vocal sound effects for comedy ra ...
and Jerry Hausner sharing voicing duties. The '' Wacky Races'' animated series character 'Clyde' from the Ant Hill Mob was based on Robinson's Little Caesar persona. Voice actor Hank Azaria has noted that the voice of '' Simpsons'' character police chief
Clancy Wiggum Chief Clancy Wiggum is a fictional character from the animated television series ''The Simpsons'', voiced by Hank Azaria. He is the chief of police in the show's setting of Springfield, and is the father of Ralph Wiggum and the husband of Sara ...
is an impression of Robinson. This has been explicitly joked about in episodes of the show. In " The Day the Violence Died" (1996), a character states that Chief Wiggum is clearly based on Robinson. In 2008's " Treehouse of Horror XIX", Wiggum and Robinson's ghost each accuse the other of being rip-offs. Another caricature of Robinson appears in two episodes of '' Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' season two, in the person of Lt. Tan Divo. Arok the Hutt was inspired by Edward G. Robinson's gangster portrayals in Star Wars: The Clone Wars Robinson was played by Michael Stuhlbarg in the 2015 film '' Trumbo''. His portrayal as a man who named supposed communists is controversial.


Selected filmography

* '' Arms and the Woman'' (1916) as Factory Worker (uncredited, some sources only) * ''
The Bright Shawl ''The Bright Shawl'' is a 1923 American silent historical drama film directed by John S. Robertson and produced by and starring Richard Barthelmess. This film, based on a novel by Joseph Hergesheimer, had several days of filming on location i ...
'' (credited as E.G. Robinson, 1923) as Domingo Escobar (with Richard Barthelmess, William Powell and Mary Astor) * '' The Hole in the Wall'' (1929) as The Fox (with Claudette Colbert) * '' Outside the Law'' (1930) as Cobra Collins * '' A Lady to Love'' (1930) as Tony * '' East Is West'' (1930) as Charlie Yong (with Lupe Vélez and Lew Ayres) * '' Night Ride'' (1930) as Tony Garotta (with Joseph Schildkraut) * ''Die Sehnsucht jeder Frau'' (1930) as Tony (German language version of ''A Lady to Love'') * '' The Kibitzer'' (1930, co-written original play only) * ''An Intimate Dinner in Celebration of Warner Brothers Silver Jubilee'' (1930, short) as Himself * '' The Widow from Chicago'' (1930) as Dominic (with Neil Hamilton) * ''How I Play Golf by Bobby Jones No. 10: Trouble Shots'' (1931, short) as Himself (uncredited) * ''
Little Caesar Little Caesar may refer to: People * Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar, nicknamed Caesarion ("Little Caesar"), last pharaoh of Egypt, son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra * Little Caesar (singer) (1928-1994; birth name Harry Caesar) U.S. sing ...
'' (1931) as Little Caesar – Alias 'Rico' (with
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr., (December 9, 1909 – May 7, 2000) was an American actor, producer and decorated naval officer of World War II. He is best known for starring in such films as ''The Prisoner of Zenda'' (1937), '' Gunga Din'' (1939) ...
) * ''
The Stolen Jools ''The Stolen Jools'' is a 1931 American pre-Code comedy short produced by the Masquers Club of Hollywood, featuring many cameo appearances by film stars of the day. The stars appeared in the film, distributed by Paramount Pictures, to raise fun ...
'' (1931, short) as Gangster (segment "At the Police Station"; with Wallace Beery and
Buster Keaton Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is best known for his silent film work, in which his trademark was physical comedy accompanied by a stoic, deadpan expression ...
) * '' Smart Money'' (1931) as Nick Venizelos (with
James Cagney James Francis Cagney Jr. (; July 17, 1899March 30, 1986) was an American actor, dancer and film director. On stage and in film, Cagney was known for his consistently energetic performances, distinctive vocal style, and deadpan comic timing. He ...
and Boris Karloff) * '' Five Star Final'' (1931) as Randall (with Boris Karloff) * ''
The Hatchet Man ''The Hatchet Man'' (1932) is a pre-Code film directed by William A. Wellman and starring Edward G. Robinson. Warner Bros. had purchased the David Belasco/ Achmed Abdullah play ''The Honorable Mr. Wong'' about the Tong gang wars. Made durin ...
'' (1932) as Wong Low Get (with Loretta Young) * '' Two Seconds'' (1932) as John Allen * '' Tiger Shark'' (1932) as Mike Mascarenhas (with Richard Arlen) * '' Silver Dollar'' (1932) as Yates Martin (with Bebe Daniels) * '' The Little Giant'' (1933) as Bugs Ahearn (with Mary Astor) * ''
I Loved a Woman ''I Loved a Woman'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama directed by Alfred E. Green, starring Kay Francis, Edward G. Robinson, and Genevieve Tobin. According to producer Hal Wallis' autobiography (with Charles Higham), Robinson and Francis "were ...
'' (1933) as John Mansfield Hayden (with Kay Francis) * '' Dark Hazard'' (1934) as Jim 'Buck' Turner * '' The Man with Two Faces'' (1934) as Damon Welles / Jules Chautard (with Mary Astor) * '' The Whole Town's Talking'' (1935) as Arthur Ferguson Jones (with Jean Arthur) * '' Barbary Coast'' (1935) as Luis Chamalis (with Miriam Hopkins, Joel McCrea, Walter Brennan, Brian Donlevy and David Niven) * '' Bullets or Ballots'' (1936) as Detective Johnny Blake (with Joan Blondell and
Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film In ...
) * '' Thunder in the City'' (1937) as Dan Armstrong (with
Ralph Richardson Sir Ralph David Richardson (19 December 1902 – 10 October 1983) was an English actor who, with John Gielgud and Laurence Olivier, was one of the trinity of male actors who dominated the British stage for much of the 20th century. He wo ...
) * ''A Day at Santa Anita'' (1937, short) as Himself (uncredited) * '' Kid Galahad'' (1937) as Nick Donati (with Bette Davis and
Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film In ...
) * '' The Last Gangster'' (1937) as Joe Krozac (with
James Stewart James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military pilot. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morality h ...
) * '' A Slight Case of Murder'' (1938) as Remy Marco * ''
The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse ''The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse'' is a 1938 American crime film directed by Anatole Litvak and starring Edward G. Robinson, Claire Trevor and Humphrey Bogart. It was distributed by Warner Bros. and written by John Wexley and John Huston, based o ...
'' (1938) as Dr. Clitterhouse (with Claire Trevor,
Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film In ...
, Donald Crisp, Maxie Rosenbloom and
Ward Bond Wardell Edwin Bond (April 9, 1903 – November 5, 1960) was an American film character actor who appeared in more than 200 films and starred in the NBC television series ''Wagon Train'' from 1957 to 1960. Among his best-remembered roles are Ber ...
) * '' I Am the Law'' (1938) as Prof. John Lindsay * ''Verdensberømtheder i København'' (1939, documentary) as Himself * '' Confessions of a Nazi Spy'' (1939) as Edward Renard (with George Sanders, Paul Lukas and
Ward Bond Wardell Edwin Bond (April 9, 1903 – November 5, 1960) was an American film character actor who appeared in more than 200 films and starred in the NBC television series ''Wagon Train'' from 1957 to 1960. Among his best-remembered roles are Ber ...
) * ''
Blackmail Blackmail is an act of coercion using the threat of revealing or publicizing either substantially true or false information about a person or people unless certain demands are met. It is often damaging information, and it may be revealed to fa ...
'' (1939) as John R. Ingram * ''
Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet ''Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet'' is a 1940 American biographical film directed by William Dieterle and starring Edward G. Robinson, based on the true story of the German doctor and scientist Dr. Paul Ehrlich. The film was released by Warner Bros., ...
'' (1940) as Dr. Paul Ehrlich (with Ruth Gordon and Donald Crisp) * ''
Brother Orchid ''Brother Orchid'' is a 1940 American crime/comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Edward G. Robinson, Ann Sothern and Humphrey Bogart, with featured performances by Donald Crisp, Ralph Bellamy and Allen Jenkins. The screenplay was wri ...
'' (1940) as 'Little' John T. Sarto (with Ann Sothern,
Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film In ...
, Donald Crisp and Ralph Bellamy) * ''
A Dispatch from Reuter's ''A Dispatch from Reuters'' is a 1940 biographical film about Paul Reuter, the man who built the famous news service that bears his name.''Harrison's Reports'' review; November 2, 1940, page 174. Story behind Reuters Paul Reuter starts a messe ...
'' (1940) as Julius Reuter (with Eddie Albert) * '' The Sea Wolf'' (1941) as 'Wolf' Larsen (with Ida Lupino, John Garfield and
Barry Fitzgerald William Joseph Shields (10 March 1888 – 14 January 1961), known professionally as Barry Fitzgerald, was an Irish stage, film and television actor. In a career spanning almost forty years, he appeared in such notable films as ''Bringing Up Ba ...
) * '' Manpower'' (1941) as Hank McHenry (with Marlene Dietrich,
George Raft George Raft (born George Ranft; September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, Raft is ...
and
Ward Bond Wardell Edwin Bond (April 9, 1903 – November 5, 1960) was an American film character actor who appeared in more than 200 films and starred in the NBC television series ''Wagon Train'' from 1957 to 1960. Among his best-remembered roles are Ber ...
) * ''Polo with the Stars'' (1941, short) as Himself – Watching Polo Match (uncredited) * '' Unholy Partners'' (1941) as Bruce Corey * ''
Larceny, Inc. ''Larceny, Inc.'' is a 1942 American film. Originally released on May 2, 1942, by Warner Bros., the film is a cross between comedy and gangster genres. Directed by Lloyd Bacon, the film stars Edward G. Robinson, Jane Wyman, Broderick Crawford, a ...
'' (1942) as Pressure' Maxwell (with Jane Wyman,
Broderick Crawford William Broderick Crawford (December 9, 1911 – April 26, 1986) was an American stage, film, radio, and television actor, often cast in tough-guy roles and best known for his Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning portrayal of Willie Stark in ''All t ...
, Jack Carson, Anthony Quinn and Jackie Gleason) * '' Tales of Manhattan'' (1942) as Avery L. 'Larry' Browne (with Charles Boyer, Rita Hayworth, Ginger Rogers, Henry Fonda and
Charles Laughton Charles Laughton (1 July 1899 – 15 December 1962) was a British actor. He was trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and first appeared professionally on the stage in 1926. In 1927, he was cast in a play with his future w ...
) * '' Moscow Strikes Back'' (1942, documentary) as Narrator * ''Magic Bullets'' (1943, short documentary) as Narrator * ''
Destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...
'' (1943) as Steve Boleslavski (with Glenn Ford) * ''
Flesh and Fantasy ''Flesh and Fantasy'' is a 1943 American anthology film directed by Julien Duvivier and starring Edward G. Robinson, Charles Boyer, Robert Cummings, and Barbara Stanwyck. The making of this film was inspired by the success of Duvivier's previous ...
'' (1943) as Marshall Tyler (Episode 2) (with Charles Boyer and
Barbara Stanwyck Barbara Stanwyck (; born Ruby Catherine Stevens; July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was an American actress, model and dancer. A stage, film, and television star, during her 60-year professional career she was known for her strong, realistic sc ...
) * '' Tampico'' (1944) as Capt. Bart Manson (with Victor McLaglen) * ''
Double Indemnity ''Double Indemnity'' is a 1944 American crime film noir directed by Billy Wilder, co-written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler, and produced by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Sistrom. The screenplay was based on James M. Cain's 1943 novel of the same ...
'' (1944) as Barton Keyes (with
Fred MacMurray Frederick Martin MacMurray (August 30, 1908 – November 5, 1991) was an American actor. He appeared in more than one hundred films and a successful television series, in a career that spanned nearly a half-century. His career as a major film le ...
and
Barbara Stanwyck Barbara Stanwyck (; born Ruby Catherine Stevens; July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was an American actress, model and dancer. A stage, film, and television star, during her 60-year professional career she was known for her strong, realistic sc ...
) * '' Mr. Winkle Goes to War'' (1944) as Wilbert Winkle * '' The Woman in the Window'' (1944) as Professor Richard Wanley (with Joan Bennett and
Raymond Massey Raymond Hart Massey (August 30, 1896 – July 29, 1983) was a Canadian actor, known for his commanding, stage-trained voice. For his lead role in '' Abe Lincoln in Illinois'' (1940), Massey was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor. Amo ...
) * '' Our Vines Have Tender Grapes'' (1945) as Martinius Jacobson (with Agnes Moorehead) * ''
Journey Together ''Journey Together'' is a 1945 British drama war film directed by John Boulting and starring Richard Attenborough, Jack Watling and David Tomlinson. It is Boulting's film directorial debut. The film was produced by the Royal Air Force Film Prod ...
'' (1945) as Dean McWilliams (with
Richard Attenborough Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough, (; 29 August 192324 August 2014) was an English actor, filmmaker, and entrepreneur. He was the president of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and the British Academy of Film and Televisio ...
) * '' Scarlet Street'' (1945) as Christopher Cross (with Joan Bennett) * ''American Creed'' (1946, short) as Himself * '' The Stranger'' (1946) as Mr. Wilson (with Loretta Young and Orson Welles) * '' The Red House'' (1947) as Pete Morgan * ''
All My Sons ''All My Sons'' is a three-act play written in 1946 by Arthur Miller. It opened on Broadway at the Coronet Theatre in New York City on January 29, 1947, closed on November 8, 1949, and ran for 328 performances. It was directed by Elia Kazan (t ...
'' (1948) (with
Burt Lancaster Burton Stephen Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994) was an American actor and producer. Initially known for playing tough guys with a tender heart, he went on to achieve success with more complex and challenging roles over a 45-yea ...
) as Joe Keller * '' Key Largo'' (1948) as Johnny Rocco (with
Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film In ...
,
Lauren Bacall Lauren Bacall (; born Betty Joan Perske; September 16, 1924 – August 12, 2014) was an American actress. She was named the 20th-greatest female star of classic Hollywood cinema by the American Film Institute and received an Academy Honorary Aw ...
,
Lionel Barrymore Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blythe; April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio as well as a film director. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in ''A Free Soul'' (1931) ...
and Claire Trevor) * '' Night Has a Thousand Eyes'' (1948) as John Triton * '' House of Strangers'' (1949) as Gino Monetti (with
Susan Hayward Susan Hayward (born Edythe Marrenner; June 30, 1917 – March 14, 1975) was an American film actress, best known for her film portrayals of women that were based on true stories. After working as a fashion model for the Walter Thornton Model A ...
and Efram Zimbalist, Jr.) * '' It's a Great Feeling'' (1949) as Himself (uncredited) (with
Doris Day Doris Day (born Doris Mary Kappelhoff; April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress, singer, and activist. She began her career as a big band singer in 1939, achieving commercial success in 1945 with two No. 1 recordings, " Sent ...
and Jack Carson) * '' Operation X'' (1950) as George Constantin * '' Actors and Sin'' (1952) as Maurice Tillayou (segment "Actor's Blood") * '' Vice Squad'' (1953) as Capt. 'Barnie' Barnaby (with Paulette Goddard) * ''
Big Leaguer ''Big Leaguer'' is a 1953 American sports film, sports drama (film and television), drama film starring Edward G. Robinson and was the first film directed by Robert Aldrich. Although this story is fiction, Robinson's character in it, Hans Lobert, ...
'' (1953) as John B. 'Hans' Lobert (with
Carl Hubbell Carl Owen Hubbell (June 22, 1903 – November 21, 1988), nicknamed "the Meal Ticket" and "King Carl", was an American Major League Baseball player. He was a pitcher for the New York Giants of the National League from 1928 to 1943, and remained o ...
) * '' The Glass Web'' (1953) as Henry Hayes (with John Forsythe) * '' Black Tuesday'' (1954) as Vincent Canelli (with Peter Graves) * ''For the Defense'' (1954 TV movie) as Matthew Considine * ''
The Violent Men ''The Violent Men'' is a 1955 American Western film directed by Rudolph Maté and starring Glenn Ford, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, Dianne Foster, Brian Keith, and May Wynn. Based on the 1955 novel '' Smoky Valley'' by Donald Hamil ...
'' (1955) as Lew Wilkison (with Glenn Ford and
Barbara Stanwyck Barbara Stanwyck (; born Ruby Catherine Stevens; July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was an American actress, model and dancer. A stage, film, and television star, during her 60-year professional career she was known for her strong, realistic sc ...
) * ''
Tight Spot ''Tight Spot'' is a 1955 American film noir crime film directed by Phil Karlson and starring Ginger Rogers, Edward G. Robinson and Brian Keith. The story was inspired by Senator Estes Kefauver's tactics in coercing Virginia Hill to testify in ...
'' (1955) as Lloyd Hallett (with Ginger Rogers) * ''
A Bullet for Joey ''A Bullet for Joey'' is a 1955 film noir directed by Lewis Allen and starring Edward G. Robinson and George Raft. The picture involves a gangster who sneaks into Canada to kidnap a scientist for the communists. The supporting cast features ...
'' (1955) as Inspector Raoul Leduc (with
George Raft George Raft (born George Ranft; September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, Raft is ...
) * ''
Illegal Illegal, or unlawful, typically describes something that is explicitly prohibited by law, or is otherwise forbidden by a state or other governing body. Illegal may also refer to: Law * Violation of law * Crime, the practice of breaking the cr ...
'' (1955) as Victor Scott (with Jayne Mansfield) * '' Hell on Frisco Bay'' (1956) as Victor Amato (with
Alan Ladd Alan Walbridge Ladd (September 3, 1913 – January 29, 1964) was an American actor and film producer. Ladd found success in film in the 1940s and early 1950s, particularly in films noir and Westerns. He was often paired with Veronica Lake ...
) * ''
Nightmare A nightmare, also known as a bad dream, Retrieved 11 July 2016. is an unpleasant dream that can cause a strong emotional response from the mind, typically fear but also despair, anxiety or great sadness. The dream may contain situations of d ...
'' (1956) as Rene Bressard * '' The Ten Commandments'' (1956) as Dathan (with
Charlton Heston Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter; October 4, 1923April 5, 2008) was an American actor and political activist. As a Hollywood star, he appeared in almost 100 films over the course of 60 years. He played Moses in the epic film ''The Ten C ...
, Yul Brynner,
Anne Baxter Anne Baxter (May 7, 1923 – December 12, 1985) was an American actress, star of Hollywood films, Broadway productions, and television series. She won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, and was nominated for an Emmy. A granddaughter of Fra ...
,
John Derek John Derek (born Derek Delevan Harris; August 12, 1926 – May 22, 1998) was an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer and photographer.Vincent Price) * ''The Heart of Show Business'' (1957, short) as Narrator * ''
A Hole in the Head ''A Hole in the Head'' (1959) is a DeLuxe Color comedy film, shown in CinemaScope, directed by Frank Capra, featuring Frank Sinatra, Edward G. Robinson, Eleanor Parker, Keenan Wynn, Carolyn Jones, Thelma Ritter, Dub Taylor, Ruby Dandridge, ...
'' (1959) as Mario Manetta (with
Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...
, Eleanor Parker and Thelma Ritter) * '' Seven Thieves'' (1960) as Theo Wilkins (with
Rod Steiger Rodney Stephen Steiger (; April 14, 1925July 9, 2002, aged 77) was an American actor, noted for his portrayal of offbeat, often volatile and crazed characters. Cited as "one of Hollywood's most charismatic and dynamic stars," he is closely assoc ...
and Joan Collins) * "
The Devil and Daniel Webster "The Devil and Daniel Webster" (1936) is a short story by American writer Stephen Vincent Benét. He tells of a New Hampshire farmer who sells his soul to the devil and is later defended by Daniel Webster, a fictional version of the noted 19th-c ...
" (1960, NBC-TV movie) as Daniel Webster * ''The Right Man'' (1960, TV movie) as Theodore Roosevelt * '' Pepe'' (1960) as Himself * '' My Geisha'' (1962) as Sam Lewis (with
Shirley MacLaine Shirley MacLaine (born Shirley MacLean Beaty, April 24, 1934) is an American actress, author, and former dancer. Known for her portrayals of quirky, strong-willed and eccentric women, MacLaine has received numerous accolades over her seven-dec ...
) * '' Two Weeks in Another Town'' (1962) (with
Kirk Douglas Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch; December 9, 1916 – February 5, 2020) was an American actor and filmmaker. After an impoverished childhood, he made his film debut in ''The Strange Love of Martha Ivers'' (1946) with Barbara Stanwyck. Do ...
and Claire Trevor) as Maurice Kruger * '' Sammy Going South'' (1963, a.k.a. ''A Boy Ten Feet Tall'') as Cocky Wainwright * ''
The Prize The Prize may refer to: * ''The Prize'' (novel), a 1962 novel by Irving Wallace ** ''The Prize'' (1963 film), a 1963 film based on the novel * ''The Prize'' (1950 film), a 1950 French film * ''The Prize'' (2011 film), a 2011 Mexican film * * ...
'' (1963) as Dr. Max Stratman (with
Paul Newman Paul Leonard Newman (January 26, 1925 – September 26, 2008) was an American actor, film director, race car driver, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, three ...
) * ''
Robin and the 7 Hoods ''Robin and the 7 Hoods'' is a 1964 American musical film directed by Gordon Douglas and starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Bing Crosby. The picture features Peter Falk, Barbara Rush, and an uncredited Edward G. Rob ...
'' (1964) as Big Jim Stevens (uncredited; with the
Rat Pack The Rat Pack was an informal group of entertainers, the second iteration of which ultimately made films and appeared together in Las Vegas casino venues. They originated in the late 1940s and early 1950s as a group of A-list show business frie ...
and
Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...
) * ''
Good Neighbor Sam ''Good Neighbor Sam'' is a 1964 American Eastman Color screwball comedy film co-written and directed by David Swift, based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Jack Finney. The film stars Jack Lemmon, Romy Schneider, Dorothy Provine, Michael C ...
'' (1964) as Simon Nurdlinger (with
Jack Lemmon John Uhler Lemmon III (February 8, 1925 – June 27, 2001) was an American actor. Considered equally proficient in both dramatic and comic roles, Lemmon was known for his anxious, middle-class everyman screen persona in dramedy pictures, leadin ...
and Neil Hamilton) * ''
Cheyenne Autumn ''Cheyenne Autumn'' is a 1964 American epic Western film starring Richard Widmark, Carroll Baker, James Stewart, and Edward G. Robinson. It tells the story of a factual event, the Northern Cheyenne Exodus of 1878–79, told in "Hollywood style ...
'' (1964) as Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz (with Richard Widmark, Karl Malden, Ricardo Montalban and
James Stewart James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military pilot. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morality h ...
) * '' The Outrage'' (1964) as Con Man (with
Paul Newman Paul Leonard Newman (January 26, 1925 – September 26, 2008) was an American actor, film director, race car driver, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, three ...
, Claire Bloom and William Shatner) * ''Who Has Seen the Wind?'' (1965, TV movie) as Captain * '' The Cincinnati Kid'' (1965) as Lancey Howard (with
Steve McQueen Terrence Stephen McQueen (March 24, 1930November 7, 1980) was an American actor. His antihero persona, emphasized during the height of the counterculture of the 1960s, made him a top box-office draw for his films of the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1 ...
, Ann-Margret, Karl Malden, Joan Blondell and
Cab Calloway Cabell Calloway III (December 25, 1907 – November 18, 1994) was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, conductor and dancer. He was associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, where he was a regular performer and became a popular vocalist ...
) * ''
Batman Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on ...
'' (1966) Cameo * ''All About People'' (1967, short) as Narrator * '' The Blonde from Peking'' (1967) as Douglas – chef C.I.A. * '' Grand Slam'' (1967) as Prof. James Anders (with Janet Leigh) * ''
Operation St. Peter's ''Operazione San Pietro'' (internationally released as ''Operation St. Peter's'') is a 1967 Italian comedy film directed by Lucio Fulci. The film is a sort of unofficial sequel to '' Operazione San Gennaro'', a successful heist-comedy film that ...
'' (1967) as Joe Ventura * '' The Biggest Bundle of Them All'' (1968) as Professor Samuels (with Robert Wagner and with Raquel Welch) * '' Never a Dull Moment'' (1968) as Leo Joseph Smooth (with
Dick Van Dyke Richard Wayne Van Dyke (born December 13, 1925) is an American actor, entertainer and comedian. His award-winning career has spanned seven decades in film, television, and stage. Van Dyke began his career as an entertainer on radio and telev ...
) * '' It's Your Move'' (1968) as Sir George McDowell * '' Mackenna's Gold'' (1969) (with
Gregory Peck Eldred Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003) was an American actor and one of the most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1970s. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Peck the 12th-greatest male star of Classic Hollywood ...
) as Old Adams * '' U.M.C.'', aka ''Operation Heartbeat'' (1969, TV movie) as Dr. Lee Forestman * ''
The Old Man Who Cried Wolf ''The Old Man Who Cried Wolf'' is a 1970 American made-for-television thriller film directed by Walter Grauman and starring Edward G. Robinson, Martin Balsam and Diane Baker. It originally aired as the ''ABC Movie of the Week'' on October 13, 19 ...
'' (1970, TV movie) as Emile Pulska (with Martin Balsam and Ed Asner) * '' Song of Norway'' (1970) as Krogstad (with Florence Henderson) * ''
Mooch Goes to Hollywood ''Mooch Goes to Hollywood'' (aka ''Mooch'') is a 1971 51-minute television film was directed by Richard Erdman and co-written by Jim Backus, who also stars in the film as himself. The film chronicles the adventures of Mooch, an ambitious dog, and ...
'' (1971) as Himself – Party guest (uncredited) * '' Night Gallery'' (1971) Season 2, episode 13a ("The Messiah on Mott Street") as Abe Goldman * '' Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'' (1971) Cameo * '' Neither by Day Nor by Night'' (1972) as Father * '' Soylent Green'' (1973) as Sol Roth (with
Charlton Heston Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter; October 4, 1923April 5, 2008) was an American actor and political activist. As a Hollywood star, he appeared in almost 100 films over the course of 60 years. He played Moses in the epic film ''The Ten C ...
and Joseph Cotten; Robinson's final film role)


Radio appearances


See also

*
List of posthumous Academy Award winners and nominees This is a list of posthumous Academy Award winners and nominees. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences annually presents Academy Awards in both competitive and honorary categories. This list includes posthumous winners and nominees of ...


References


Further reading

* * *


External links

* * * *
Photographs and literature
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Edward G. 1893 births 1973 deaths 20th-century American male actors Academy Honorary Award recipients Activists for African-American civil rights American Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni American anti-fascists American male film actors American male silent film actors American male stage actors American people of Romanian-Jewish descent Burials in New York (state) California Democrats Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor winners City College of New York alumni Deaths from bladder cancer Deaths from cancer in California Hollywood blacklist Jewish American activists Jewish American art collectors Jewish American male actors Jewish anti-fascists Jewish anti-racism activists Male actors from Bucharest Male actors from New York City Male actors from Palm Springs, California New York (state) Democrats People from the Lower East Side People of the United States Office of War Information Romanian Ashkenazi Jews Romanian emigrants to the United States Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award Townsend Harris High School alumni United States Navy personnel of World War I Warner Bros. contract players Yiddish theatre performers 20th-century American Jews Members of The Lambs Club American Ashkenazi Jews Yiddish-speaking people