Introduction
Robert "King" Moody (December 6, 1929 – February 7, 2001) was an American actor, best known for playing Shtarker in the television series Get Smart and for his portrayal as Ronald McDonald in the McDonald's commercials from 1969 to 1985.
Early life
Moody was born in New York City on December 6, 1929.
Career
Moody played the spaceship captain in Teenagers From Outer Space and various other roles in forty movies and television episodes, including Bonanza, The Bob Newhart Show, CHiPs, Combat!, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Dragnet, and Sea Hunt. He became the fifth portrayer of Ronald McDonald in 1969, playing the character for sixteen years in McDonald's commercials, until 1985.
Personal life
Moody married Rachel Rosenthal in 1960; the marriage lasted for nineteen years before they divorced in 1979. He married his second wife Jacqueline L. Larson in 1981, but they divorced in 1984 after three years of marriage.
Death
Moody died on February 7, 2001 in Tarzana, California at the age of 71.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Teenagers from Outer Space | Spacecraft Captain | |
| 1962 | The Nun and the Sergeant | Pollard | |
| Terror at Black Falls | Billy, barroom tough-guy | ||
| 1963 | Five Minutes to Love | Blowhard | |
| 1964 | The Glass Cage | Tox Milner | |
| 1966 | Any Wednesday | Milkman | |
| 1968 | The Destructors | Patch | |
| P.J. | Thorson Friend | Uncredited | |
| Sweet November | Digby | ||
| The Shakiest Gun in the West | Ernie | Uncredited | |
| 1970 | The Strawberry Statement | TV Newscaster | |
| Which Way to the Front? | Checkpoint Guard #2 | Uncredited | |
| 1972 | Get to Know Your Rabbit | TV Reporter | |
| 1989 | Wedding Band | Detective | |
| 1991 | The Dark Backward | Twinkee Doodle | |
| 1992 | The Nutt House | Victor Kaplan | (final film role) |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960–1961 | Sea Hunt | Consul Baumer, Dr. Herschel, Heinrich Maus | 3 episodes |
| 1966–1969 | Get Smart | Markovich, Kirsch, Starker, KAOS Scientist | 10 episodes |
| 1967 | Combat! | Toulon | Episode: "Entombed" |
| 1989 | Get Smart, Again! | Starker | TV movie |