Robert Walker (actor, Born 1918)
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Robert Hudson Walker (October 13, 1918 – August 28, 1951) was an American actorObituary '' Variety'', September 5, 1951, page 75. who starred as the villain in
Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featu ...
's thriller '' Strangers on a Train'' (1951), which was released shortly before his premature death. He started in youthful boy-next-door roles, often as a World War II soldier. One of these roles was opposite his first wife,
Jennifer Jones Jennifer Jones (born Phylis Lee Isley; March 2, 1919 – December 17, 2009), also known as Jennifer Jones Simon, was an American actress and mental-health advocate. Over the course of her career that spanned more than five decades, she was nomin ...
, in the World War II epic '' Since You Went Away'' (1944). He also played
Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern (January 27, 1885 – November 11, 1945) was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over ...
in ''
Till the Clouds Roll By ''Till the Clouds Roll By'' is a 1946 American Technicolor musical film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and a fictionalized biopic of composer Jerome Kern, portrayed by Robert Walker (actor, born 1918), Robert Walker. Kern was involved with the ...
''. Twice divorced by 30, he suffered from
alcoholism Alcoholism is the continued drinking of alcohol despite it causing problems. Some definitions require evidence of dependence and withdrawal. Problematic use of alcohol has been mentioned in the earliest historical records. The World He ...
and
mental illness A mental disorder, also referred to as a mental illness, a mental health condition, or a psychiatric disability, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. A mental disorder is ...
, which were exacerbated by his painful separation and divorce from Jones.


Early life

Walker was born in
Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake City, often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. It is the county seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Salt ...
. Emotionally scarred by his parents' divorce when he was still a child, he subsequently developed an interest in acting, which led his maternal aunt, Hortense McQuarrie Odlum (then the president of Bonwit Teller), to offer to pay for his enrollment at the
American Academy of Dramatic Arts The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) is a Private college, private drama school with two locations, one in New York City and one in Los Angeles. The academy offers an associate degree in occupational studies and teaches drama and related ...
in New York City in 1937. Walker lived in her home during his first year in the city.


Career and personal life

While attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Walker met fellow aspiring actress Phylis Isley, who later took the stage name
Jennifer Jones Jennifer Jones (born Phylis Lee Isley; March 2, 1919 – December 17, 2009), also known as Jennifer Jones Simon, was an American actress and mental-health advocate. Over the course of her career that spanned more than five decades, she was nomin ...
. After a brief courtship, the couple married in
Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa ( ) is the List of municipalities in Oklahoma, second-most-populous city in the U.S. state, state of Oklahoma, after Oklahoma City, and the List of United States cities by population, 48th-most-populous city in the United States. The po ...
, on January 2, 1939. Walker had some small unbilled parts in films such as '' Winter Carnival'' (1939) and two
Lana Turner Julia Jean "Lana" Turner ( ; February 8, 1921June 29, 1995) was an American actress. Over a career spanning nearly five decades, she achieved fame as both a pin-up model and a film actress, as well as for her highly publicized personal life. ...
films at MGM: '' These Glamour Girls'' (1939) and '' Dancing Co-Ed'' (1939). Walker and Jones' elder son, Robert Walker Jr., later became a successful film actor. Their other son, Michael Walker (1941–2007), was also an actor who appeared in films ''The Rogues'' (1964), '' Coronet Blue'' (1967) and ''Hell's Belles'' (1969), as well as several 1960s television series.


Radio

Walker costarred in the weekly radio show '' Maudie's Diary'' from August 1941 to September 1942. Isley then returned to auditioning and her luck changed when she was discovered in 1941 by producer
David O. Selznick David O. Selznick (born David Selznick; May 10, 1902June 22, 1965) was an American film producer, screenwriter and film studio executive who produced ''Gone with the Wind (film), Gone with the Wind'' (1939) and ''Rebecca (1940 film), Rebecca'' (1 ...
, who changed her name to Jennifer Jones and groomed her for stardom.


MGM

The couple returned to Hollywood, and Selznick's connections helped Walker secure a contract with
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...
, where he started work on the war drama ''
Bataan Bataan (, , , ; ) , officially the Province of Bataan, is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Balanga while Mariveles is the largest town in the province. Occupying the entire Bataan Peninsula ...
'' (1943), playing a sailor who fights in the
Battle of Bataan The Battle of Bataan (; 7 January – 9 April 1942) was fought by the United States and the Philippine Commonwealth against Imperial Japan during World War II. The battle represented the most intense phase of the Japanese invasion of the Phi ...
. He followed it with a supporting role in '' Madame Curie'' (1943).


Stardom

Walker's charming demeanor and boyish good looks proved popular with audiences, and he was promoted to stardom with the title part of the romantic soldier in ''
See Here, Private Hargrove ''See Here, Private Hargrove'' is a 1942 book by Marion Hargrove, about his experiences in U.S. Army basic training. Origin The author, a North Carolina native, was a correspondent for ''The Charlotte News'' prior to World War II. After he was ...
'' (1944). He also appeared in Selznick's '' Since You Went Away'' (1944), in which he and his wife portrayed doomed young lovers during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. By that time, Jones' affair with Selznick was a matter of common knowledge, and Jones and Walker separated in November 1943 during production of the film. The filming of their love scenes was trying for Walker, as Selznick insisted that Walker perform multiple takes for each scene with Jones. She filed for divorce in April 1945. She and Selznick were married in 1949. ''Since You Went Away'' was one of the most financially successful movies of 1944, earning over $7 million.Thomson, David (1993). ''Showman: The Life of David O. Selznick''. Abacus, p. 418. Returning to MGM, Walker appeared with
Spencer Tracy Spencer Bonaventure Tracy (April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was an American actor. He was known for his natural performing style and versatility. One of the major stars of Classical Hollywood cinema, Hollywood's Golden Age, Tracy was the ...
and Van Johnson in ''
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo ''Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo'' is a 1944 American war film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The screenplay by Dalton Trumbo is based on the 1943 book of the same name by Captain Ted W. Lawson. Lawson was a pilot on the historic Doolittle Raid, Ame ...
'' (1944), the story of the Doolittle Raid. He played flight engineer and turret gunner David Thatcher, and it was another box-office hit. Walker starred as a GI preparing for overseas deployment in '' The Clock'' (1945), with
Judy Garland Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. Possessing a strong contralto voice, she was celebrated for her emotional depth and versatility across film, stage, and concert performance. ...
playing his love interest in her second non-musical film.. He then appeared in a romantic comedy with Hedy Lamarr and
June Allyson June Allyson (born Eleanor Geisman; October 7, 1917 – July 8, 2006) was an American stage, film, and television actress. Allyson began her career in 1937 as a dancer in short subject films and on Broadway in 1938. She signed with MGM in 1943 ...
titled '' Her Highness and the Bellboy'' (1945). He next appeared in a second Private Hargrove film, ''
What Next, Corporal Hargrove? ''What Next, Corporal Hargrove?'' is a 1945 black-and-white comedy film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Robert Walker and Keenan Wynn. It was distributed by MGM and produced by George Haight. Harry Kurnitz received an Oscar nomination fo ...
'' (1945), and a romantic comedy with
June Allyson June Allyson (born Eleanor Geisman; October 7, 1917 – July 8, 2006) was an American stage, film, and television actress. Allyson began her career in 1937 as a dancer in short subject films and on Broadway in 1938. She signed with MGM in 1943 ...
, '' The Sailor Takes a Wife'' (1945). Walker starred in the musical ''
Till the Clouds Roll By ''Till the Clouds Roll By'' is a 1946 American Technicolor musical film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and a fictionalized biopic of composer Jerome Kern, portrayed by Robert Walker (actor, born 1918), Robert Walker. Kern was involved with the ...
'' (1946), in which he played the popular composer
Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern (January 27, 1885 – November 11, 1945) was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over ...
. The film earned rental receipts of more than $6 million. He starred as composer
Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms (; ; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor of the mid-Romantic period (music), Romantic period. His music is noted for its rhythmic vitality and freer treatment of dissonance, oft ...
in '' Song of Love'' (1947), which costarred
Katharine Hepburn Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress whose Katharine Hepburn on screen and stage, career as a Golden Age of Hollywood, Hollywood leading lady spanned six decades. She was known for her headstrong ...
and Paul Henreid, but the lavish production lost MGM more than $1 million. He also appeared in a film about the construction of the atomic bomb, '' The Beginning or the End'' (1946), which also resulted in a loss at the box office, and a Tracy-Hepburn drama directed by
Elia Kazan Elias Kazantzoglou (, ; September 7, 1909 – September 28, 2003), known as Elia Kazan ( ), was a Greek-American film and theatre director, producer, screenwriter and actor, described by ''The New York Times'' as "one of the most honored and inf ...
titled '' The Sea of Grass'' (1947), which was profitable. In 1948, MGM lent Walker to Universal to star with
Ava Gardner Ava Lavinia Gardner (December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an American actress during the Golden Age of Hollywood. She first signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew critics' att ...
in the film ''
One Touch of Venus ''One Touch of Venus'' is a 1943 musical with music written by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ogden Nash, and book by S. J. Perelman and Nash, based on the 1885 novella ''The Tinted Venus'' by Thomas Anstey Guthrie, and very loosely spoofing the Pygma ...
'', directed by
William A. Seiter William Alfred Seiter (June 10, 1890 – July 26, 1964) was an American film director. Life and career Seiter was born in New York City. After attending Hudson River Military Academy, Seiter broke into films in 1915 as a bit player at Mack Senn ...
. The film was a non-musical comedy adapted from a Broadway show with music by
Kurt Weill Kurt Julian Weill (; ; March 2, 1900April 3, 1950) was a German-born American composer active from the 1920s in his native country, and in his later years in the United States. He was a leading composer for the stage who was best known for hi ...
. Walker married Barbara Ford, the daughter of director
John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), better known as John Ford, was an American film director and producer. He is regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers during the Golden Age of Hollywood, and w ...
, in July 1948, but the marriage lasted only five months. Back at MGM, Walker starred in two films that lost money, '' Please Believe Me'' (1950) with
Deborah Kerr Deborah Jane Trimmer CBE (30 September 192116 October 2007), known professionally as Deborah Kerr (), was a Scottish actress. She was nominated six times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, becoming the first person from Scotland to be no ...
and '' The Skipper Surprised His Wife'' (1950) with Joan Leslie. More popular was '' Vengeance Valley'' (1951), a Western with
Burt Lancaster Burton Stephen Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994) was an American actor. Initially known for playing tough characters with tender hearts, he went on to achieve success with more complex and challenging roles over a 45-year caree ...
.


Final years

In 1949, Walker spent time at the Menninger Clinic, where he was treated for a psychiatric disorder. Following his discharge, he was cast by director
Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featu ...
in '' Strangers on a Train'' (1951), for which he received acclaim for his performance as the charming psychopath Bruno Antony. In his final film, Walker played the title role in
Leo McCarey Thomas Leo McCarey (October 3, 1898 – July 5, 1969) was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He was involved in nearly 200 films, including the critically acclaimed '' Duck Soup'', '' Make Way for Tomorrow'', '' The Awf ...
's '' My Son John'' (1952), a strongly
anticommunist Anti-communism is Political movement, political and Ideology, ideological opposition to communism, communist beliefs, groups, and individuals. Organized anti-communism developed after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia, and it reached global ...
film, produced during the height of
McCarthyism McCarthyism is a political practice defined by the political repression and persecution of left-wing individuals and a Fear mongering, campaign spreading fear of communist and Soviet influence on American institutions and of Soviet espionage i ...
. Despite the film's theme and Walker's identification as a Republican, he took the role to work with McCarey and costar
Helen Hayes Helen Hayes MacArthur (; October 10, 1900 – March 17, 1993) was an American actress. Often referred to as the "First Lady of American Theatre", she was the second person and first woman to win EGOT, the EGOT (an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and ...
rather than because of any political motivation. Walker died before production finished, so angles from his death scene in ''Strangers on a Train'' were spliced into a similar melodramatic death scene near the end of the film.René Jordan. "Now you see it, now you don't: the art of movie magic," in ''The movie-buff's book'', ed. Ted Sennett, New York: Bonanza Books, 1975, pp. 132-142.


Death

On the night of August 28, 1951, Walker's housekeeper found him in an emotional state. She called Walker's
psychiatrist A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in psychiatry. Psychiatrists are physicians who evaluate patients to determine whether their symptoms are the result of a physical illness, a combination of physical and mental ailments or strictly ...
Frederick Hacker, who arrived and administered
amobarbital Amobarbital (formerly known as amylobarbitone or sodium amytal as the soluble sodium salt) is a drug that is a barbiturate derivative. It has sedative-hypnotic properties. It is a white crystalline powder with no odor and a slightly bitter taste. ...
for sedation. Walker had allegedly been drinking before the outburst and it was believed that the combination of amobarbital and alcohol caused him to lose consciousness and stop breathing. Efforts to resuscitate him failed and he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter at the age of 32. In her biography of Walker and Jones titled ''Star-Crossed'', author Beverly Linet quoted Walker's friend Jim Henaghan (who was not mentioned in official accounts of the death), as saying that he was present at the events leading to Walker's death. Henaghan stated that he had visited Walker's house in Los Angeles, where they played cards and Walker was behaving normally. Henaghan claimed that Walker's psychiatrist arrived and insisted that he receive an injection and, when Walker refused, Henaghan restrained him in order for the physician to administer the injection. According to Henaghan, Walker soon lost consciousness and frantic efforts to revive him failed.Linet, pp. 268-271 Walker was buried at Lindquist's Washington Heights Memorial Park in
Ogden, Utah Ogden ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Weber County, Utah, Weber County, Utah, United States, approximately east of the Great Salt Lake and north of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,321 in 2020, according to the United States Census ...
.


Filmography


See also

*


References

Notes Bibliography * Linet, Beverly (1985) ''Star Crossed: The Story of Robert Walker and Jennifer Jones'', New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Robert 1918 births 1951 deaths American Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni American male film actors American male radio actors Drug-related deaths in California Male actors from Salt Lake City Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players 20th-century American male actors Barbiturates-related deaths American Latter Day Saints California Republicans Utah Republicans