Robert Dudley (September 13, 1869 – September 15, 1955) was a dentist turned film

character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to b ...

who, in his 35-year career, appeared in more than 115 films.

Career

Dudley was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and was educated at Lake Forest College in Evanston, Illinois and Chicago, where he majored in oral surgery. In 1917 he appeared in his first film, '' Seven Keys to Baldpate'', and then made three other

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

s through 1921. After 1922 he worked consistently, appearing in three or four films a year, and making the transition to sound films in 1929 with '' The Bellamy Trial''. Dudley often played characters with a quick temper, including jurors, shopkeepers, ticket agents, court clerks and justices of the peace, as well as an occasional farmer, hobo, or laborer. His performances in these small parts were frequently uncredited. In the 1940s, Dudley was part of

Preston Sturges 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 six films written and directed by Sturges.Dudley appeared in ''

The Lady Eve ''The Lady Eve'' is a 1941 American screwball comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges and starring Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda.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 ...

'', ''

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 ...

'', ''

The Miracle of Morgan's Creek ''The Miracle of Morgan's Creek'' is a 1944 American screwball comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring Eddie Bracken and Betty Hutton, and featuring Diana Lynn, William Demarest and Porter Hall. Brian Donlevy and Akim Tamir ...

'', '' The Great Moment'' and ''

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock ''The Sin of Harold Diddlebock'' is a 1947 comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring the silent film comic icon Harold Lloyd, and featuring a supporting cast including female protagonist Frances Ramsden, Jimmy Conlin, Raym ...

'' His most distinctive and memorable role for Sturges was the Wienie King in 1942's ''

'', the rich man with a big hat who spontaneously bankrolls

Claudette Colbert Claudette Colbert ( ; born Émilie Claudette Chauchoin; September 13, 1903July 30, 1996) was an American actress. Colbert began her career in Broadway productions during the late 1920s and progressed to films with the advent of talking pictures ...

and

Joel McCrea Joel Albert McCrea (November 5, 1905 – October 20, 1990) was an American actor whose career spanned a wide variety of genres over almost five decades, including comedy, drama, romance, thrillers, adventures, and Westerns, for which he bec ...

on their escapade.

Personal life and death

The 5' 9" Dudley, who was the founder of the Troupers Club of Hollywood, was married to Elaine Anderson, and they had two girls, Jewell and Patricia Lee. He made his final film ''

As Young as You Feel ''As Young as You Feel'' is a 1951 American comedy film starring Monty Woolley, Thelma Ritter, and David Wayne, with Marilyn Monroe in a small role. It was directed by Harmon Jones. Plot When printer John R. Hodges is forced to retire at age 65 ...

'' in 1951 and died on September 15, 1955, in San Clemente, California.

Partial filmography

* '' Seven Keys to Baldpate'' (1917) * ''

Out of a Clear Sky ''Out of a Clear Sky'' is a lost 1918 American silent romantic drama film starring Marguerite Clark and directed by Marshall Neilan. Based upon a novel by Maria Thompson Daviess, Famous Players-Lasky produced the film and Paramount Pictures distri ...

'' (1918) * '' The Traveling Salesman'' (1921) * ''

One a Minute ''One a Minute'' is a 1921 American comedy silent film directed by Jack Nelson and written by Frederick J. Jackson and Joseph F. Poland. The film stars Douglas MacLean, Marian De Beck, Victor Potel, Frances Raymond, Andrew Robson, and Graham P ...

'' (1921, uncredited) * ''

The Ninety and Nine ''The Ninety and Nine'' was a 1922 American silent film, silent drama film directed by David Smith (director), David Smith and starring Colleen Moore made shortly before she gained fame as a film flapper. The film was presumed lost, although rece ...

'' (1922) * ''

Making a Man ''Making a Man'' is a 1922 American silent drama film produced by Adolph Zukor and Jesse L. Lasky, distributed by Paramount Pictures, and directed by Joseph Henabery.''The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1921-30'' by The Americ ...

'' (1922) * ''

The Tiger's Claw ''The Tiger's Claw'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Joseph Henabery and written by Jack Cunningham. The film stars Jack Holt, Eva Novak, George Periolat, Bertram Grassby, Aileen Pringle, and Carl Stockdale. It was released on ...

'' (1923) * ''

Sixty Cents an Hour ''Sixty Cents an Hour'' is a 1923 American silent film, silent comedy film directed by Joseph Henabery and written by Grant Carpenter and Frank Condon. Starring Walter Hiers, Jacqueline Logan, Ricardo Cortez, Charles Stanton Ogle, Lucille Ward, ...

'' (1923) * ''

The Day of Faith ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'' (1923) * '' Nobody's Bride'' (1923) * ''

The Extra Girl ''The Extra Girl'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by F. Richard Jones and starring Mabel Normand.

'' (1923, uncredited) * '' Flapper Wives'' (1924) * ''

On the Stroke of Three ''On the Stroke of Three'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by F. Harmon Weight and starring Kenneth Harlan, Madge Bellamy, and Mary Carr. Plot As described in a review in a film magazine, Lafayette Jordan (Davis), financier, plans ...

'' (1924) * ''

A Woman of the World ''A Woman of the World'' is a 1925 American silent comedy-drama film starring Pola Negri, directed by Mal St. Clair, produced by Famous Players-Lasky, and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Plot As described in a review in a film magazine, C ...

'' (1925, uncredited) * ''

The Marriage Clause ''The Marriage Clause'' is a 1926 silent film drama directed by Lois Weber and starring Francis X. Bushman and Billie Dove. It was produced and released by Universal Pictures. The film marked a return to directing for Weber, who had taken a bre ...

'' (1926) * ''

Good Time Charley ''Good Time Charley'' is a 1927 American silent drama film produced and distributed by Warner Bros. and directed by Michael Curtiz. The film apparently had a Vitaphone soundtrack of music and effects. It was considered to be a lost film. How ...

'' (1927, uncredited) * ''

Broadway Madness ''Broadway Madness'' is a 1927 American silent romantic drama film directed by Burton L. King and starring Marguerite De La Motte, Donald Keith, and Betty Hilburn. Plot A young farmer in upstate New York City becomes obsessed with a Broadway ...

'' (1927) * ''

Lure of the Night Club ''Lure of the Night Club'' is a 1927 American silent film, silent romance film , romantic-drama film, drama directed by Tom Buckingham and starring Viola Dana, Robert Ellis (actor, born 1892), Robert Ellis and Jack Dougherty (actor), Jack Dougher ...

'' (1927) * '' The Night Flyer'' (1928) * '' Skinner's Big Idea'' (1928) * ''

Fools for Luck ''Fools for Luck'' is a 1928 American silent comedy film directed by Charles Reisner and written by Harry Fried, George Marion Jr., Sam Mintz, and J. Walter Ruben. The film stars W.C. Fields, Chester Conklin, Sally Blane, Jack Luden, Mary ...

'' (1928) * '' The Bellamy Trial'' (1929) * '' Fast Freight'' (1929) * '' Shanghai Rose'' (1929) * ''

Big News ''The Big News'' is the evening television news program of ABC 5. It was the first evening news program on Philippine television. It aired from March 19, 1962, to September 22, 1972. After the reopening of ABC 5 in 1992, Originally anchored by ...

'' (1929) * ''

The Mysterious Island ''The Mysterious Island'' (french: L'Île mystérieuse) is a novel by Jules Verne, published in 1875. The original edition, published by Hetzel, contains a number of illustrations by Jules Férat. The novel is a crossover sequel to Verne's f ...

'' (1929) * '' Dames Ahoy!'' (1930) * '' Range Law'' (1931, uncredited) * ''

Three Wise Girls ''Three Wise Girls'' is a 1932 American pre-Code romantic drama film directed by William Beaudine and featuring Jean Harlow in her first starring role. The supporting cast features a young Andy Devine. This film is preserved in the Library of C ...

'' (1932) * ''

Reunion Reunion may refer to: * Class reunion * Family reunion Reunion, Réunion, Re-union, Reunions or The Reunion may also refer to: Places * Réunion, a French overseas department and island in the Indian Ocean * Reunion, Commerce City, Colorado, U ...

'' (1932) * '' The Mighty Treve'' (1937) * '' Racketeers in Exile'' (1937) * ''

Zenobia Septimia Zenobia ( Palmyrene Aramaic: , , vocalized as ; AD 240 – c. 274) was a third-century queen of the Palmyrene Empire in Syria. Many legends surround her ancestry; she was probably not a commoner and she married the ruler of the city ...

'' (1939) (UK: 'Elephants Never Forget') * ''

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) * ''

'' (1942) * ''

The Ghost and the Guest ''The Ghost and the Guest'' is a 1943 American black-and-white comedy-mystery film directed by William Nigh and starring James Dunn, Florence Rice, Robert Dudley, and Sam McDaniel. The plot finds a newlywed couple honeymooning in a house they ...

'' (1943) * '' Happy Land'' (1943) * ''

'' (1944) * '' It Happened Tomorrow'' (1944) * '' The Great Moment'' (1944) * '' The Big Noise'' (1944) * '' Nothing but Trouble'' (1944) * ''

Singin' in the Corn ''Singin' in the Corn'' is a 1946 American Comedy Western film directed by Del Lord and written by Isabel Dawn, Monte Brice, and Elwood Ullman. The film stars Judy Canova, Allen Jenkins, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, Alan Bridge, Charles Halton and ...

'' (1946) * ''

'' (1947) * ''

Magic Town ''Magic Town'' is a 1947 comedy film directed by William A. Wellman and starring James Stewart and Jane Wyman. The picture is one of the first films about the then-new practice of public opinion polling. The film was inspired by the Middletown ...

'' (1947) * '' Strike It Rich'' (1948) * ''

Portrait of Jennie ''Portrait of Jennie'' is a 1948 American fantasy film based on the 1940 novella by Robert Nathan. The film was directed by William Dieterle and produced by David O. Selznick. It stars Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten. At the 21st Academy A ...

'' (1948, uncredited) * ''

'' (1951, uncredited)

References

External links

*
Robert Dudley at AllMovie.com
* 1869 births 1955 deaths Male actors from Ohio American male film actors American male silent film actors Lake Forest College alumni 20th-century American male actors {{US-film-actor-1860s-stub