Introduction
Robert Arthur (June 18, 1925 – October 1, 2008) was an American film and television actor who appeared in dozens of films in the 1940s and 1950s.
Early life and education
Robert Arthur was born as Robert Paul Arthaud on June 18, 1925, in Aberdeen, Washington.
He graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1943. Later, he attended the University of Washington and was in the U.S. Navy training program.
Career
After working in radio and serving in the Navy during World War II, Arthur moved to Hollywood to pursue a career in acting. He marked his debut in 1945 appearing in the role of Frankie in Michael Curtiz's comedy drama Roughly Speaking, starring Rosalind Russell and Jack Carson. He soon was signed to a studio contract with Warners and appeared in Frederick De Cordova-directed Too Young to Know (1945), Michael Curtiz's Night and Day(1946), and Vincent Sherman's Nora Prentiss (1947).
In 1949, he appeared in Henry King's war drama Twelve O'Clock High as the comic relief–providing Sgt. McIllhenny. In 1951, he was seen in Billy Wilder film Ace in the Hole.
1950 saw his television debut with the role of Terry Baxter in "Trouble for Tonto" episode of The Lone Ranger. He was seen playing two other characters—Jimmy Darby and Terry Baxter—in two other episodes of the series in 1952.
After appearing in Wild Youth in 1960, Arthur took a break from acting and was seen on the screen intermittently in the tail-end of his career.
Since the late 1970s, he headed the California-based Project Rainbow organization to help aid gay senior citizens and was involved with the Log Cabin Republicans.
Personal life
Arthur never married but it's reported that he had dated actresses Jane Russell, Rhonda Fleming, Jan Sterling, Jane Greer, Ava Gardner, and Zsa Zsa Gabor.
Death
Robert Arthur died from heart failure in Aberdeen, Washington, on October 1, 2008, at the age of 83.
Partial filmography
- Roughly Speaking (1945) - Frankie at 17
- Mildred Pierce (1945) - High School Boy (uncredited)
- Danger Signal (1945) - Hotel Boy (uncredited)
- Too Young to Know (1945) - Jimmy
- Her Kind of Man (1946) - Copy Boy (uncredited)
- Night and Day (1946) - Customer (uncredited)
- Nobody Lives Forever (1946) - Bellhop (uncredited)
- Sweetheart of Sigma Chi (1946) - Harry Townsend
- Nora Prentiss (1947) - Gregory Talbot
- The Devil on Wheels (1947) - Todd Powell
- Mother Wore Tights (1947) - Bob Clarkman
- Green Grass of Wyoming (1948) - Ken McLaughlin
- Yellow Sky (1948) - Bull Run
- Mother Is a Freshman (1949) - Beaumont Jackson
- You're My Everything (1949) - Harold - College Boy in "Heart of a Co-Ed"
- Twelve O'Clock High (1949) - Sgt. McIllhenny
- September Affair (1950) - David Lawrence Jr
- Air Cadet (1951) - Walt Carver
- Ace in the Hole (1951) - Herbie Cook
- On the Loose (1951) - Larry Lindsay
- Belles on Their Toes (1952) - Frank Gilbreth, Jr.
- The Ring (1952) - Billy Smith
- Just For You (1952) - Jerry Blake
- The System (1953) - Rex Merrick
- Young Bess (1953) - Barnaby
- Take the High Ground! (1953) - Donald Quentin Dover IV
- Return from the Sea (1954) - Porter
- Top of the World (1955) - Lt. Skip McGuire
- The Desperados Are in Town (1956) - Lonny Kesh
- Three Violent People (1956) - One-Legged Confederate Soldier (uncredited)
- Hellcats of the Navy (1957) - Freddy Warren
- Young and Wild (1958) - Jerry Coltrin
- Wild Youth (1960) - Frankie