Robert Cochran Hilliard (May 28, 1857 - June 6, 1927) was an American stage actor. A popular matinee idol of his day, he was nicknamed Handsome Bob.When They Were Twenty-One
''Theatre Magazine''The Oxford Companion to American Theatre
p. 309

Career

Hilliard was born in New York City in 1857, and got involved in acting through amateur productions while he was working as a clerk on Wall Street. His professional debut was in the play ''False Shame'' in Brooklyn in 1886. He acted in many plays until retiring in 1918. ''The Oxford Companion to American Theatre'' states that "although he was a star for many years, most of the plays in which he acted were popular but ephemeral works." He also made frequent appearance in vaudeville between plays. As his nickname "Handsome Bob" might indicate, Hilliard was known for his attractive looks and for being very well-dressed in the fashions of the day. By 1888, Hilliard was set up as a foil by the press to

Evander Berry Wall Evander Berry Wall (January 14, 1861 – May 4, 1940) was a New York City socialite and later an American expatriate in France during the Belle Époque and beyond. He was famous for his extravagantly refined look and was crowned "King of the Dude ...

as to who should be called "King of the

Dude ''Dude'' is American slang for an individual, typically male. From the 1870s to the 1960s, dude primarily meant a male person who dressed in an extremely fashionable manner (a dandy) or a conspicuous citified person who was visiting a rural l ...

s".Bryk, William (22 June 2005)
King of the Dudes
''

The New York Sun ''The New York Sun'' is an American online newspaper published in Manhattan; from 2002 to 2008 it was a daily newspaper distributed in New York City. It debuted on April 16, 2002, adopting the name, motto, and masthead of the earlier New York ...

Death

Hilliard died of heart disease at his home on West 58th Street in Manhattan on June 6, 1927, and was buried at

Green-Wood Cemetery Green-Wood Cemetery is a cemetery in the western portion of Brooklyn, New York City. The cemetery is located between South Slope/ Greenwood Heights, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, Kensington, and Sunset Park, and lies several ...

. He was also suffering from diabetes. He was survived by his third wife, Olga Everard Hilliard, and son Robert Bell Hilliard. He was previously married to Cora Bell from 1881 to 1894, and to Nellie B. Whitehouse Murphy, who died in 1913. He married his third wife the following year, though he was her elder by 34 years.(8 June 1927)
Robert C. Hilliard, Noted Actor, Dead
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

''(21 April 1914)
R. Hilliard Marries $2,000,000 Heiress
''

'' He had a son, Robert Bell Hilliard (d. 1928), with his first wife.(16 October 1928)
Com R. B. Hilliard Dies
''

Brooklyn Daily Eagle :''This article covers both the historical newspaper (1841–1955, 1960–1963), as well as an unrelated new Brooklyn Daily Eagle starting 1996 published currently'' The ''Brooklyn Eagle'' (originally joint name ''The Brooklyn Eagle'' and ''King ...

'', p. 14, col. 1. He has no known relation to the silent film actor

Harry Hilliard Harry Hilliard may refer to: * Harry Hilliard (cricketer) * Harry Hilliard (actor) {{hndis, Hilliard, Harry ...

though there is a resemblance.

Selected performances

* ''A Daughter of Ireland'' (1886) * ''

Blue Jeans Jeans are a type of pants or trousers made from denim or dungaree cloth. Often the term "jeans" refers to a particular style of trousers, called "blue jeans", with copper-riveted pockets which were invented by Jacob W. Davis in 1871 and pate ...

'' (1890) (role of Perry Bascomb) * ''

The Pillars of Society ''The Pillars of Society'' (or "Pillars of the Community"; original Norwegian title: ''Samfundets støtter'') is an 1877 play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. Ibsen had great trouble with the writing of this play. The ending is ...

'' (1891) (role of Johann Tonnessen) * '' The Girl of the Golden West'' (1905) (role of Dick Johnson) * '' A Fool There Was'' (1909)(as John Schuyler) * ''The Argyle Case'' (1912) (as Asche Kayton)

References

External links

* *
''Robert C. Hilliard'' at North American Theatre Online
* Robert C. Hilliard reads portions of the play ''A Fool There Was'', c. 191
recording
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hilliard, Robert C. American male stage actors 1857 births Bishop's College School alumni 1927 deaths Burials at Green-Wood Cemetery Male actors from New York City