Robert Middleton
Beetle-browed character actor Robert Middleton was known for his distinctive features and deep booming voice, a voice that paved his way in the performing arts. After studying music at the University of Cincinnati's Conservatory of Music and at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, his bombastic timbre garnered him work in radio, which sparked his interest in acting. Theater work led to Broadway, after which Middleton made his way onto screen, where his hefty build and dramatic brows led to many villainous roles. Middleton first appeared on television in the early 1950s, steadily building his résumé with a string of one-offs and guest spots on anthology series and comedy programs. While he made his feature film debut in 1954 in the epic Holy Grail adventure "The Silver Chalice," his breakthrough came the next year as the dastardly antagonist of Humphrey Bogart's beleaguered ex-con in the noir-thriller "The Desperate Hours." This proved to be the first in a string of memorable villains, including the darkly ambitious knight who jousts "The Court Jester," played by Danny Kaye in the medieval musical comedy, and a wicked politician in the 1977 alternate history drama "The Lincoln Conspiracy," which supposes the president's assassin escaped to Canada. In between these was a long line of scowling, surly heavies, often chomping on cigars or inspiring lynch mobs. "The Lincoln Conspiracy" was Middleton's 106th production and proved to be his last as the respected character actor died from congestive heart failure at the age of 66.
Photos
Robert Middleton
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
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No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Thud Pilots II: Rise of the Hunter Killer | Unknown (Character) | - | 2021 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Clarence and Angel | Assistant principal (Character) | - | 1980 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Lincoln Conspiracy | Edwin M. Stanton (Character) | - | 1977 |
No Score Yet |
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The Mark of Zorro | Don Luis Quintero (Character) | - | 1974 |
No Score Yet |
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Even Angels Eat Beans | Angelo (Character) | - | 1973 |
No Score Yet |
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The Harrad Experiment | Sidney Bower (Character) | - | 1973 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Remember When | Kraus (Character) | - | 1973 |
No Score Yet |
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Which Way to the Front? | Colonico (Character) | - | 1971 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Fairplay | Jova Purvis (Character) | - | 1971 |
No Score Yet |
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The Cheyenne Social Club | Barkeeper (Character) | - | 1970 |
No Score Yet |
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A Big Hand for the Little Lady | Dennis Wilcox (Character) | - | 1966 |
No Score Yet |
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For Those Who Think Young | Burford B. Sanford "Nifty" Cronin (Character) | - | 1964 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Cattle King | Clay Mathews (Character) | - | 1963 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Gold of the Seven Saints | Amos Gondora (Character) | - | 1961 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Witchcraft: The Doll in Brambles | Martin Plomb (Character) | - | 1961 |
No Score Yet |
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Hell Bent for Leather | Ambrose (Character) | - | 1960 |
No Score Yet |
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The Great Impostor | R.C. Brown (Character) | - | 1960 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Geronimo's Revenge | Frank Davis (Character) | - | 1960 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Guns of Zangara | Mayor Anton J. Cermak (Character) | - | 1959 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Law and Jake Wade | Ortero (Character) | - | 1958 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Day of the Bad Man | Charlie Hayes (Character) | - | 1958 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Lonely Man | Ben Ryerson (Character) | - | 1957 |
100% |
|
The Tarnished Angels | Matt Ord (Character) | - | 1957 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Red Sundown | Unknown (Character) | - | 1956 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Proud Ones | Honest John Barrett (Character) | - | 1956 |
80% |
|
Friendly Persuasion | Sam Jordan (Character) | - | 1956 |
58% |
|
Love Me Tender | Mr. Siringo (Character) | - | 1956 |
97% |
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The Court Jester | Sir Griswold (Character) | - | 1955 |
93% |
|
The Big Combo | Police Capt. Peterson (Character) | - | 1955 |
No Score Yet |
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Trial | Sheriff A.A. "Fats" Sanders (Character) | - | 1955 |
88% |
|
The Desperate Hours | Sam Kobish (Character) | - | 1955 |
13% |
|
The Silver Chalice | Idbash (Character) | - | 1954 |
TV
Credit | ||||
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No Score Yet | 100% | Kung Fu | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1974 |
No Score Yet | 80% | Columbo | Vic Norris (Guest Star) | 1973 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Mannix | Jake Coryell (Guest Star) | 1973 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Alias Smith and Jones | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1971-1972 |
No Score Yet | 84% | Get Smart | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1970 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Big Valley | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1967-1968 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bonanza | Sam Bryant (Guest Star) | 1960 1964 1967 |
No Score Yet | 100% | The Wild, Wild West | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1966 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Rawhide | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1963-1965 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | East Side/West Side | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1964 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Perry Mason | Judge Daniel Redmond (Guest Star) | 1963 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Gunsmoke | Dutch George (Guest Star) | 1955-1956 1962 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Tales of Wells Fargo | Bodie Seaton (Guest Star) | 1960-1961 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Thriller | Unknown (Character) | 1961 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Untouchables | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1960-1961 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Zane Grey Theatre | Unknown (Character) | 1961 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Law and Mr. Jones | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1961 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Rebel | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1961 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Tall Man | Paul Mason (Guest Star) | 1960 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Wagon Train | Nat Burkett (Guest Star) | 1960 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bat Masterson | Big Keel Roberts (Guest Star) | 1958 |
No Score Yet | 87% | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Louis Koster (Character) | 1956-1957 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Marshal Dillon | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1956 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Climax! | Unknown (Character) | 1955 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Letter to Loretta | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1954 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | TV Soundstage | Unknown (Character) | 1953 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Tales of Tomorrow | Unknown (Character) | 1952-1953 |