Robert Sterling (born William Sterling Hart; November 13, 1917 – May 30, 2006) was an American actor. He was best known for starring in the television series '' Topper'' (1953–1955). In 1960, Sterling was honored with a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...

for his contributions to the television industry.

Early life

Sterling was born William Sterling Hart in New Castle, Pennsylvania, 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Pittsburgh. The son of

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...

baseball player William S. Hart, he attended the University of Pittsburgh and worked as a clothing salesman before pursuing an acting career.

Career

Columbia Pictures

After signing with Columbia Pictures in 1939, he changed his name to Robert Sterling to avoid confusion with silent western star William S. Hart. His name was legally changed while he was a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

attending flight training in Marfa in West Texas in 1943. Sterling appeared in small parts for Columbia movies, often uncredited: '' Blondie Meets the Boss'' (1939), '' Romance of the Redwoods'' (1939), '' First Offenders'' (1939), '' Outside These Walls'' (1939), '' The Chump Takes a Bump'' (1939), ''

That Girl from College ''That'' is an English language word used for several grammatical purposes. These include use as an adjective, conjunction, pronoun, adverb, and intensifier; it has distance from the speaker, as opposed to words like ''this''. The word did not or ...

'' (1939), and a serial ''

Mandrake the Magician ''Mandrake the Magician'' is a syndicated newspaper comic strip A comic strip is a sequence of drawings, often cartoons, arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloon ...

'' (1939). He was in '' Only Angels Have Wings'' (1939), '' Missing Daughters'' (1939), and a short with

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 ...

, '' Pest from the West'' (1939). Sterling was in '' Good Girls Go to Paris'' (1939), '' The Man They Could Not Hang'' (1939), '' Golden Boy'' (1939), '' The Gates of Alcatraz'' (1939), '' A Woman Is the Judge'' (1939), '' The Story of Charles Goodyear'' (1939), '' Scandal Sheet'' (1939), ''

Mr Smith Goes to Washington ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' is a 1939 American political comedy-drama film directed by Frank Capra, starring Jean Arthur and James Stewart, and featuring Claude Rains and Edward Arnold. The film is about a newly appointed United States Sen ...

'' (1939), '' Beware Spooks!'' (1939), ''

Blondie Brings Up Baby ''Blondie Brings Up Baby'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms. It is the fourth of 28 films based on the comic strip. Plot summary Blondie is convinced by a salesma ...

'' (1939), '' The Amazing Mr Williams'' (1939), ''

Glove Slingers A glove is a garment covering the hand. Gloves usually have separate sheaths or openings for each finger and the thumb. If there is an opening but no (or a short) covering sheath for each finger they are called fingerless gloves. Fingerless gl ...

'' (1939), ''

The Awful Goof ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in ...

'' (1939) (a short), and '' Crime's End'' (1939). He was in ''

Nothing But Pleasure ''Nothing But Pleasure'' is the third short subject American comedian Buster Keaton made for Columbia Pictures. Keaton made a total of ten films for the studio between 1939 and 1941. Plot summary Clarence Plunkett (Buster) and his wife (Dorothy ...

'' (1940) a

short, and '' The Heckler'' (1940) a short with Charley Chase,

20th Century Fox

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...

he played the lead in '' Manhattan Heartbeat'' (1940) and ''

Yesterday's Heroes ''Yesterday's Heroes'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Herbert I. Leeds and written by Irving Cummings Jr. and William Conselman Jr.. The film stars Jean Rogers, Robert Sterling, Ted North, Kay Aldridge, Russell Gleason and Richard "Di ...

'' (1940). He was in '' The Gay Caballero'' (1940)

MGM

In November 1940, Sterling went to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He appeared in '' The Penalty'' (1941) and had the lead in '' I'll Wait for You'' (1941), '' The Getaway'' (1941), and '' Ringside Maisie'' (1941) with Ann Sothern, whom he would later marry. He had a good support role in '' Two-Faced Woman'' (1941) with Greta Garbo and '' Johnny Eager'' (1941) with Robert Taylor. Sterling could also be seen in ''

Dr. Kildare's Victory ''Dr. Kildare's Victory'' is a 1942 film directed by W. S. Van Dyke. It stars Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore. It is the ninth and last of the MGM Dr. Kildare movie series. Plot summary Dr. Kildare (Lew Ayres) is involved in a dispute between t ...

'' (1942) and '' This Time for Keeps'' (1942). He was billed third in '' Somewhere I'll Find You'' (1942), after Clark Gable and Lana Turner - one of MGM's biggest films of the year. But just as it seemed Sterling was about to break through as a star he joined the service.

Post war

Sterling served in World War II as a United States Army Air Corps flight instructor. He got out of the army in October 1945 and MGM announced him for '' The Last Time I Saw Paris'' but the film would not be made for several years, and not with Sterling. He appeared in '' The Secret Heart'' (1946) at MGM. At RKO he had the lead in '' Roughshod'' (1949). He made an independent Western, '' The Sundowners'' (1950) with Robert Preston and John Drew Barrymore, and did '' Bunco Squad'' (1951) at RKO. He was appearing on Broadway in '' The Gramercy Ghost'' when he formed a relationship with actress/singer Anne Jeffreys. On television, Sterling starred in "The Man Who Had Influence", the May 29, 1950, episode of ''

Studio One Studio One or Studio 1 may refer to: * Studio One (software), digital audio workstation software, developed by PreSonus * ''Studio One'' (American TV series), a 1948–1958 American television anthology series * ''Studio One'' (Emirati TV progra ...

''. He also appeared on such shows as '' The Ford Theatre Hour'', '' Showtime, U.S.A.'', '' The Clock'', '' The Web'' (starring in the episode "Homecoming"), ''

Faith Baldwin Romance Theatre ''Faith Baldwin Romance Theatre'' (also known as ''Faith Baldwin's Theatre of Romance'') is a 1951 half-hour dramatic American television anthology series hosted by writer Faith Baldwin. Initially, the show was on weekly but starting with episode 1 ...

'', '' Celanese Theatre'', ''

Lights Out Lights Out may refer to: Events and times * Institutional, and thence colloquial, term for bedtime *Lights Out (event), an event in the UK on 4 August 2014 to commemorate the start of World War I * Lights Out Hong Kong, a campaign to protest air ...

'' (one episode with Grace Kelly), '' Betty Crocker Star Matinee'' (an episode with

Audrey Hepburn Audrey Hepburn (born Audrey Kathleen Ruston; 4 May 1929 – 20 January 1993) was a British actress and humanitarian. Recognised as both a film and fashion icon, she was ranked by the American Film Institute as the AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, t ...

), ''

Suspense Suspense is a state of mental uncertainty, anxiety, being undecided, or being doubtful. In a dramatic work, suspense is the anticipation of the outcome of a plot or of the solution to an uncertainty, puzzle, or mystery, particularly as it aff ...

'', ''

The Gulf Playhouse ''Gulf Playhouse'', also known as ''Gulf Playhouse: 1st Person'' and ''First Person Playhouse'', is an American anthology series that aired on Friday nights from 1952 to 1953 on NBC. Originally a standard live dramatic anthology series, it was la ...

'', '' Robert Montgomery Presents'', '' Studio One in Hollywood'' (an adaptation of '' The Ambassadors''), and '' Climax!''. Sterling had an excellent part as Steve Baker, opposite Ava Gardner as Julie, in the hit MGM 1951 film version of '' Show Boat''. He supported Audie Murphy in '' Column South'' (1953). He and his second wife, actress Anne Jeffreys, also developed a night club act.

''Topper''

Sterling is perhaps most well known for starring with Jeffreys as the spirited George Kerby, to Jeffreys' Marion Kerby in the television program '' Topper'', based on the 1937 original film '' Topper''; Sterling played Cary Grant's role in the TV series, which aired on the CBS network from 1953 to 1955. Leo G. Carroll starred in the title role. Wife Marion Kerby was referred to as "the ghostess with the mostest", while Sterling's character was known as "that most sporty spirit". Mr. Carroll's titular character was introduced as "host to said ghosts". In 1955 he and Jeffreys appeared in a TV production of '' Dearest Enemy'', adapted by Neil Simon. He continued to guest star on such shows as '' The Loretta Young Show'', '' Lux Video Theatre'', '' Star Stage'', '' The 20th Century-Fox Hour'', '' The Ford Television Theatre'', '' Cavalcade of America'', and '' Telephone Time''. On December 18, 1957, Sterling and Jeffreys played a couple with an unusual courtship arrangement in "The Julie Gage Story" on the first season of NBC's '' Wagon Train''.

''Love That Jill''

In 1958, the couple co-starred in another comedy series, '' Love That Jill'' on ABC. Sterling and Jeffreys portrayed heads of rival modeling agencies in New York City. Sterling appeared on '' The United States Steel Hour'', then returned to features at Fox. He had good roles in '' Return to Peyton Place'' (1961), as Mike Rossi, husband of Eleanor Parker, and '' Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'' (1961) for Irwin Allen.

''Ichabod and Me''

In the 1961–1962 television season, Sterling co-starred with

George Chandler George Chandler (June 30, 1898 – June 10, 1985) was an American actor who starred in over 140 feature films, usually in smaller supporting roles, and he is perhaps best known for playing the character of Uncle Petrie Martin on the televi ...

and Reta Shaw in CBS's '' Ichabod and Me''. In 1963, Sterling starred in '' The Twilight Zone'' episode " Printer's Devil" alongside Burgess Meredith. He was also in ''

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was rena ...

'' and '' Naked City'', plus ''

A Global Affair ''A Global Affair'' is a 1964 American comedy film directed by Jack Arnold (director), Jack Arnold, and starring Bob Hope, Michèle Mercier, Yvonne De Carlo, and Elga Andersen. Plot A baby is abandoned at the United Nations headquarters in New ...

'' (1964) with Bob Hope.

Later career

After some additional television work in the early 1960s, Sterling made only sporadic appearances in later shows such as the hospital drama '' The Bold Ones'', the sitcoms '' Nanny and the Professor'', ''

Love, American Style ''Love, American Style'' is an anthology comedy television series that aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974. The series was produced by Paramount Television. During the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons, it was a part of ABC's Friday primetime lineup ...

'', ''

Diana Diana most commonly refers to: * Diana (name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) * Diana (mythology), ancient Roman goddess of the hunt and wild animals; later associated with the Moon * Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–1997) ...

'' and '' The Brian Keith Show'', the TV movie '' Letters from Three Lovers'' (1973), and the miniseries ''

Beggarman, Thief ''Beggarman, Thief'' is a 1977 novel written by Irwin Shaw. It was a sequel to his 1970 bestseller '' Rich Man, Poor Man'' and focuses on the surviving Jordache siblings, Gretchen and Rudolph; their deceased brother Thomas' teenage son Wesley Jor ...

'' in 1979. In the 1970s Sterling was a vice president and the spokesman for a company that implemented the software for one of the first supermarket barcoding and computer inventory systems. He later launched Sterling & Sons, a Santa Monica company that manufactured custom golf clubs. In the 1980s he guest starred on shows like '' Fantasy Island'', '' Simon & Simon'', ''

Masquerade Masquerade or Masquerader may refer to: Events * Masquerade ball, a costumed dance event * Masquerade ceremony, a rite or cultural event in many parts of the world, especially the Caribbean and Africa * Masqueraders, the performers in the West ...

'', ''

Murder, She Wrote ''Murder, She Wrote'' is an American crime drama television series, created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson and William Link, starring Angela Lansbury, and produced and distributed by Universal Television for the CBS network. The series f ...

'', and '' Hotel''. Sterling's star on the

is located at 1709 Vine Street.

Personal life

Sterling was married twice. His first marriage, in 1943, was to actress-singer Ann Sothern. They had a daughter, Patricia, who became an actress. Sothern and Sterling divorced in 1949. Sterling met actress-singer Anne Jeffreys soon after his Broadway debut, and they wed in 1951 and remained married for 55 years until his death. They had three sons. Sterling was a Republican who campaigned for

Dwight Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; ; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was an American military officer and statesman who served as the 34th president of the United States from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, ...

in the 1952 presidential election. Sterling died Tuesday, May 30, 2006, aged 88, at his home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California. According to the Associated Press, his son, Jeffrey, indicated that Sterling died of natural causes and also suffered from debilitating

shingles Shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster, is a viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters in a localized area. Typically the rash occurs in a single, wide mark either on the left or right side of the body or face. ...

for the last decade of his life. He was cremated and his ashes were returned to his family.

Selected Filmography

* ''

'' (1962) (Season 1 Episode 8: "House Guest") as Ray Roscoe

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sterling, Robert 1917 births 2006 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male film actors American male stage actors American male television actors California Republicans Male actors from Pennsylvania Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players Military personnel from Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Republicans People from New Castle, Pennsylvania United States Army Air Forces officers United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II University of Pittsburgh alumni