Robert Middlemass (September 3, 1883 – September 10, 1949) was an American playwright and stage actor, and later character actor with over 100 film appearances, usually playing detectives or policemen.(13 Feb 1937)
Mrs. Susan C. Middlemass
''

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Biography

Middlemass was born in

New Britain, Connecticut New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately southwest of Hartford. According to 2020 Census, the population of the city is 74,135. Among the southernmost of the communities encompassed wi ...

. He graduated from

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of highe ...

in 1909 and initially went into the insurance business, but soon went on the stage, joining the Castle Square Theatre stock company in Boston. He debuted on Broadway in September 1914 in ''The Bludgeon'' at the Maxine Elliott Theatre.Sexennial Report Class of 1909 Harvard College
pp. 201-02 (1915) (self report from Middlemass) His best known play was a one-act melodrama written with Holworthy Hall (real name H.E. Porter, a college roommate) titled '' The Valiant'', which was also made into a film of the same name in 1929,Jones, Ken D., et al
Character People
p. 146 (1976) (full text not available online) ("Robert Middlemass appeared as a character actor in many films in the 1930s and 1940s, but he is known best as the author of The Valiant, a famous one-act play") and as '' The Man Who Wouldn't Talk'' in 1940. The play became a favorite for amateur and local theater groups(23 Sept 2009)
Holworthy Hall
Skaneateles (blog)McCulloh, T.H. (8 Nov 1995)
THEATER REVIEWS : 'Valiant' Locked in Another Era; No Reprieve in Execution
''

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'' and is still performed today.(28 Jan 2014)
Student-directed "The Valiant" slated for SFA's Downstage Theatre
Stephen F. Austin University News (example of more recent performance) Middlemass moved to

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...

around 1935 and began appearing in films. He died there in 1949.

Select theatre credits

* '' Buddies'' (1919–20) * ''For All of Us'' (1923–24) * '' The Butter and Egg Man'' (1925–26)(13 April 1926)
How Sleight of Hand Helped Actor to Act
'' The Sun (New York)'', p. 28 col. 7 * '' The Valiant'' (1926, one night on Broadway), first published in ''

McClure's ''McClure's'' or ''McClure's Magazine'' (1893–1929) was an American illustrated monthly periodical popular at the turn of the 20th century. The magazine is credited with having started the tradition of muckraking journalism ( investigative, wa ...

'' in 1921.The Valiant
''

'' (March 1921) * ''

Gambling Gambling (also known as betting or gaming) is the wagering of something of value ("the stakes") on a random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy are discounted. Gambling thus requires three ele ...

'' (1929–30) * '' Small Miracle'' (1934–35)

Selected filmography

* '' Other Men's Daughters'' (1918) - Richard Ormsby * ''

Five Thousand an Hour ''Five Thousand an Hour'' is a 1918 American silent comedy-drama film, directed by Ralph Ince. It stars Hale Hamilton, Lucille Lee Stewart, and Gilbert Douglas, and was released on November 25, 1918. Cast list * Hale Hamilton as Johnny Gamble * ...

'' (1918) - Ashley Loring * '' The Winchester Woman'' (1919) - Alan Woodward * '' A Day At The Races'' (1932) - Sheriff * '' Party Wire'' (1935) - Judge Stephenson * '' Air Hawks'' (1935) - Martin Drewen * '' The Awakening of Jim Burke'' (1935) - Bill Duke * '' Unknown Woman'' (1935) - Hammacher * '' The Black Room'' (1935) - The Prosecutor (uncredited) * '' After the Dance'' (1935) - King * '' Atlantic Adventure'' (1935) - Harry Van Dieman * '' The Public Menace'' (1935) - Frentrup * '' She Couldn't Take It'' (1935) - Desk Sergeant (uncredited) * '' Grand Exit'' (1935) - Fire Chief Mulligan * ''

Crime and Punishment ''Crime and Punishment'' ( pre-reform Russian: ; post-reform rus, Преступление и наказание, Prestupléniye i nakazániye, prʲɪstʊˈplʲenʲɪje ɪ nəkɐˈzanʲɪje) is a novel by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. ...

'' (1935) - Cop (uncredited) * '' One Way Ticket'' (1935) - Bender * ''Super-Speed'' (1935) - Wilson Gale * ''

Too Tough to Kill ''Too Tough to Kill'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by D. Ross Lederman and starring Victor Jory. Cast * Victor Jory as John O'Hara * Sally O'Neil as Ann Miller * Johnny Arthur as Willie Dent * Robert Gleckler as Bill Anderson * Mo ...

'' (1935) - Hubbel * ''

If You Could Only Cook ''If You Could Only Cook'' (1935) is a screwball comedy of mistaken identity starring Herbert Marshall as a frustrated automobile executive and Jean Arthur as a young woman who talks him into posing as her husband so they can land jobs as a butle ...

'' (1935) - Chief Inspector (uncredited) * '' The Lone Wolf Returns'' (1935) - Chief of Detectives McGowan * '' Two Against the World'' (1936) - Bertram C. Reynolds * ''

Dangerous Intrigue ''Dangerous Intrigue'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by David Selman and starring Ralph Bellamy, Gloria Shea and Joan Perry.Monaco p.49 Main cast * Ralph Bellamy as Tony Halliday * Gloria Shea as Gerta Kosovic * Joan Perry as Ca ...

'' (1936) - Koenig (uncredited) * '' Muss 'em Up'' (1936) - Inspector Brock * '' You May Be Next'' (1936) - Dan McMahon * '' Frankie and Johnny'' (1936) - Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

F-Man ''F-Man'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline and written by Richard Connell, Henry Johnson, Paul Gerard Smith and Eddie Welch. The film stars Jack Haley, William Frawley, Grace Bradley, Adrienne Marden, Onslow Stevens a ...

'' (1936) - Chief Cartwright * '' Nobody's Fool'' (1936) - Sharkey (uncredited) * ''

A Son Comes Home ''A Son Comes Home'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by E.A. Dupont and starring Mary Boland, Julie Haydon and Donald Woods. It was one of three films made by Dupont for Paramount Pictures.St. Pierre p.23 Plot Partial cast * Mary Boland ...

'' (1936) - Sheriff * ''

Grand Jury A grand jury is a jury—a group of citizens—empowered by law to conduct legal proceedings, investigate potential criminal conduct, and determine whether criminal charges should be brought. A grand jury may subpoena physical evidence or a p ...

'' (1936) - Police Chief Brady (uncredited) * '' The Case of the Velvet Claws'' (1936) - Police Sgt. Wilbur Hoffman * ''

Cain and Mabel ''Cain and Mabel'' is a 1936 romantic comedy film designed as a vehicle for Marion Davies in which she co-stars with Clark Gable. The story had been filmed before, in 1924, by William Randolph Hearst's production company, Cosmopolitan, as a sile ...

'' (1936) - Mr. George, Cafe Proprietor * '' Hideaway Girl'' (1936) - Capt. Dixon * '' Hats Off'' (1936) - Tex Connolly * '' General Spanky'' (1936) - Overseer * '' Guns of the Pecos'' (1937) - Judge L.F. Blake * ''Trapped'' (1937) - Sol Rothert * '' A Day at the Races'' (1937) - Sheriff * '' The Last Train from Madrid'' (1937) - Militiaman (uncredited) * '' Meet the Boyfriend'' (1937) - McGrath * ''

Charlie Chan on Broadway ''Charlie Chan on Broadway'' (1937) is a Charlie Chan film. This is the 15th film starring Oland as Chan and produced by Fox. Plot While Charlie Chan and his number one son, Lee, are aboard a New York-bound transatlantic liner returning from Ger ...

'' (1937) - Police Official (uncredited) * ''

Madame X ''Madame X'' (original title ''La Femme X'') is a 1908 play by French playwright Alexandre Bisson (1848–1912). It was novelized in English and adapted for the American stage; it was also adapted for the screen twelve times over sixty-fiv ...

'' (1937) - Prefect of Police (uncredited) * '' Navy Blue and Gold'' (1937) - Academy Superintendent * ''

45 Fathers ''45 Fathers'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by James Tinling, written by Frances Hyland and Albert Ray, and starring Jane Withers, Thomas Beck, Louise Henry, Richard Carle, Nella Walker and Andrew Tombes. It was released on November ...

'' (1937) - Lawyer Calhoun (uncredited) * '' The Bad Man of Brimstone'' (1937) - Schurz - Jury Foreman (uncredited) * '' Love Is a Headache'' (1938) - Police Commissioner (uncredited) * '' Blondes at Work'' (1938) - Boylan - Editor * ''

Arsène Lupin Returns ''Arsène Lupin Returns'' is a 1938 American mystery film directed by George Fitzmaurice and written by James Kevin McGuinness, Howard Emmett Rogers, and George Harmon Coxe. The film stars Melvyn Douglas, Virginia Bruce, Warren William, John Hal ...

'' (1938) - Sergeant (uncredited) * ''

Men Are Such Fools ''Men are Such Fools'' is a 1938 American romantic comedy directed by Busby Berkeley and written by Norman Reilly Raine and Horace Jackson. The film stars Wayne Morris, Priscilla Lane, Humphrey Bogart, Hugh Herbert, Johnnie Davis, and Penny Si ...

'' (1938) - Elevator-Starter (uncredited) * '' Highway Patrol'' (1938) - J.W. Brady * '' I Am the Law'' (1938) - Moss Kitchell * '' Spawn of the North'' (1938) - Davis (uncredited) * ''

Hold That Co-ed ''Hold That Co-ed'' is a 1938 comedy film directed by George Marshall, starring John Barrymore, George Murphy and Marjorie Weaver. Plot summary Former star quarterback Rusty Stevens believes he is being hired to be prosperous Clayton University ...

'' (1938) - Campaign Committeeman (uncredited) * ''

The Mad Miss Manton ''The Mad Miss Manton'' is a 1938 American screwball comedy-mystery film directed by Leigh Jason and starring Barbara Stanwyck as fun-loving socialite Melsa Manton and Henry Fonda as newspaper editor Peter Ames. Melsa and her debutante friends h ...

'' (1938) - District Attorney (uncredited) * '' Tarnished Angel'' (1938) - Police Chief Thomas (uncredited) * ''

I Stand Accused ''I Stand Accused'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by John H. Auer and written by Gordon Kahn and Alex Gottlieb. The film stars Robert Cummings, Helen Mack, Lyle Talbot, Thomas Beck, Gordon Jones and Robert Paige. The film was rel ...

'' (1938) - Norman L. Mitchell * '' The Cowboy and the Lady'' (1938) - Newspaper Chief (uncredited) * ''

While New York Sleeps ''While New York Sleeps'' is a 1920 American crime drama film produced by Fox Film Corporation and directed by Charles Brabin, who was the husband of actress Theda Bara. The film tells three distinct episodic stories using the same actors, Este ...

'' (1938) - James Sawyer * ''

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia ...

'' (1938) - Track Official * '' Stand Up and Fight'' (1939) - Harkrider * '' Idiot's Delight'' (1939) - Hospital Commandant (uncredited) * '' Hotel Imperial'' (1939) - General Von Schwartzberg (uncredited) * ''

Maisie Maisie Ravier is a fictional character, the leading character of ten films (1939–1947) and the radio show '' The Adventures of Maisie'' (broadcast 1945–1947, 1949–1953). She was played by actress Ann Sothern (1909–2001). Eight of the te ...

'' (1939) - Doctor (uncredited) * '' Indianapolis Speedway'' (1939) - Edward Hart * '' The Magnificent Fraud'' (1939) - Morales * ''

Coast Guard A coast guard or coastguard is a maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to ...

'' (1939) - Capt. Lyons * ''

Stanley and Livingstone ''Stanley and Livingstone'' is a 1939 American adventure film directed by Henry King and Otto Brower. It is loosely based on the true story of Welsh reporter Sir Henry M. Stanley's quest to find Dr. David Livingstone, a Scottish missionary presum ...

'' (1939) - Carmichael (uncredited) * ''

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) - Desk Sergeant (uncredited) * ''

Espionage Agent ''Espionage Agent'' is a pre– World War II spy melodrama produced by Hal B. Wallis in 1939. Directed by Lloyd Bacon, ''Espionage Agent'', like many Warner Bros. movies, clearly identifies the Germans as the enemy. This was unlike many other mov ...

'' (1939) - Militant American Tourist (uncredited) * '' The Arizona Kid'' (1939) - General Stark * '' Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (1939) - 2nd Radio Announcer (uncredited) * ''

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 sale ...

'' (1939) - Abner Cartwright * '' The Amazing Mr. Williams'' (1939) - Police Commissioner (uncredited) * ''

Slightly Honorable ''Slightly Honorable'' is a 1939 American film directed by Tay Garnett. The film was based on the 1939 novel ''Send Another Coffin'' by Frank Gilmore Presnell, Jr. (1906–1967).Frank Gilmore Presnell, Jr. (24 June 1906 (Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico ...

'' (1939) - Sen. Berry * '' Abe Lincoln in Illinois'' (1940) - Minor Role (uncredited) * '' Little Old New York'' (1940) - Nicholas Roosevelt * '' The Saint Takes Over'' (1940) - Captain Wade * ''

The Captain Is a Lady ''The Captain Is a Lady'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Robert B. Sinclair and written by Henry Clark, adapted from the play by Rachel Crothers. The film stars Charles Coburn, Beulah Bondi, Virginia Grey, Helen Broderick, Billie Bur ...

'' (1940) - Captain Peterson (uncredited) * ''

Pop Always Pays ''Pop Always Pays'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Leslie Goodwins using a screenplay by Charles E. Roberts, based on a story by Arthur J. Beckhard. Although not credited in the film, news reports of the time reported that when Goodw ...

'' (1940) - Mr. Oberton * '' Gold Rush Maisie'' (1940) - Charlie - Camp Owner (uncredited) * '' Dulcy'' (1940) - The Real Schuyler Van Dyke (uncredited) * '' The Great Plane Robbery'' (1940) - Manager (uncredited) * '' The Man Who Wouldn't Talk'' (1940) * '' Road to Zanzibar'' (1941) - Police inspector * ''

They Met in Argentina ''They Met in Argentina'' is a 1941 American film directed by Leslie Goodwins and Jack Hively for RKO Pictures. Hively had to come in and finish the picture after Goodwins was hospitalized for pneumonia. Maureen O'Hara plays an Argentinian who fa ...

'' (1941) - George Hastings (uncredited) * '' Lady Scarface'' (1941) - Police Capt. Lovell (uncredited) * ''

No Hands on the Clock ''No Hands on the Clock'' is a 1941 American comedy mystery film directed by Frank McDonald starring Chester Morris as detective Humphrey Campbell. The cast also included Jean Parker and Rose Hobart. It was produced by Pine-Thomas Productions ...

'' (1941) - Police Chief Bates * ''

Torpedo Boat A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval ship designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs were steam-powered craft dedicated to ramming enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes. Later evolutions launched variants of ...

'' (1942) - Mr. Townsend * ''

Klondike Fury ''Klondike Fury'' is a 1942 American drama film directed by William K. Howard, produced by the King Brothers, and released through Monogram. It stars Edmund Lowe. It was a remake of '' Klondike''. Plot A neurosurgeon is thrown out of the medic ...

'' (1942) - Sam Armstrong * '' The War Against Mrs. Hadley'' (1942) - Air Raid Warden (uncredited) * '' Daring Young Man'' (1942) - Drummond * '' The Payoff'' (1942) - Lester Norris * ''

Johnny Doughboy ''Johnny Doughboy'' is a 1942 American black-and-white musical comedy film directed by John H. Auer for Republic Pictures. It stars Jane Withers in a dual role as a 16-year-old actress who is sick of playing juvenile roles, and her lookalike fa ...

'' (1942) - V.J. (uncredited) * '' Truck Busters'' (1943) - Landis * ''

Submarine Alert ''Submarine Alert'' is a 1943 American film directed by Frank McDonald, produced by Pine-Thomas Productions and released by Paramount Pictures. The film stars Richard Arlen, Wendy Barrie, Nils Asther, Roger Pryor, Marc Lawrence and Ralph San ...

'' (1943) - Johnny's Father (uncredited) * '' Bombardier'' (1943) - Officer (uncredited) * '' The Black Raven'' (1943) - Tim Winfield * ''

Lady in the Death House ''Lady in the Death House'' is a 1944 American film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Jean Parker and Lionel Atwill. Plot Mary Kirk Logan is led from her cell to the electric chair, to be "killed by the hand of the man I love." A psychol ...

'' (1944) - State's Attorney * '' Gambler's Choice'' (1944) - Thomas J. Dennis (uncredited) * ''

Wilson Wilson may refer to: People *Wilson (name) ** List of people with given name Wilson ** List of people with surname Wilson * Wilson (footballer, 1927–1998), Brazilian manager and defender * Wilson (footballer, born 1984), full name Wilson R ...

'' (1944) - Lindley M. Garrison - Secretary of War (uncredited) * ''

An American Romance ''An American Romance'' is a 1944 American epic drama film directed and produced by King Vidor, who also wrote the screen story. Shot in Technicolor, the film stars Brian Donlevy and Ann Richards and is narrated by Horace McNally. The film is ...

'' (1944) - Mr. Jarrett (uncredited) * '' My Buddy'' (1944) - Judge (uncredited) * '' Main Street After Dark'' (1945) - Detective (uncredited) * '' A Sporting Chance'' (1945) - William Reardon * '' Mama Loves Papa'' (1945) - The Mayor (uncredited) * '' The Dolly Sisters'' (1945) - Oscar Hammerstein (uncredited) * ''

Hold That Blonde ''Hold That Blonde'' is a 1945 American comedy crime film directed by George Marshall and starring Eddie Bracken, Veronica Lake and Albert Dekker. Plot Bracken plays a kleptomaniac who unwittingly becomes involved with a gang of jewel thieves, ...

'' (1945) - Police Captain (uncredited) * '' Masquerade in Mexico'' (1945) - Customs Official (uncredited) * ''

Suspense Suspense is a state of mental uncertainty, anxiety, being Decision-making, undecided, or being Doubt, doubtful. In a Drama, dramatic work, suspense is the anticipation of the wikt:outcome, outcome of a plot (narrative), plot or of the solution t ...

'' (1946) - Lead Woodsman (uncredited) * '' The Trouble with Women'' (1947) - Pompus Regent (uncredited) (final film role)

References

External links

* *
The Valiant
''

'' (March 1921) {{DEFAULTSORT:Middlemass, Robert 1883 births 1949 deaths American male film actors Writers from New Britain, Connecticut Male actors from Connecticut 20th-century American male actors Harvard University alumni