Jason Nelson Robards (December 31, 1892 – April 4, 1963) was an American stage and screen actor, and the father of

Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People * Oscar (given name), an Irish- and English-language name also used in other languages; the article includes the names Oskar, Oskari, Oszkár, Óscar, and other forms. * Oscar (Irish mythology) ...

-winning actor Jason Robards Jr. Robards appeared in many films, initially as a leading man, then in character roles and occasional bit parts. Most of his final roles were in television.

Life and career

Robards was born on a

farm A farm (also called an agricultural holding) is an area of land that is devoted primarily to agricultural processes with the primary objective of producing food and other crops; it is the basic facility in food production. The name is used ...

Hillsdale, Michigan Hillsdale is the largest city and county seat of Hillsdale County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 8,036 at the 2020 census. The city is the home of Hillsdale College, a private liberal arts college noted for its academics ...

, the son of Elizabeth (née Loomis), a schoolteacher, and Frank P. Robards Sr., a farmer and post office inspector who managed

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...

's 1912 Presidential campaign in Michigan. He was raised in

Chicago, Illinois (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

. He trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He was billed simply as "Jason Robards" through most of his career, but in his latter years, after his namesake son took up acting, he was generally listed in credits as Jason Robards Sr. He died in 1963 (after which his son switched from "Jason Robards Jr." to "Jason Robards"). Contemporary actors Jason Robards III and

Sam Robards Samuel Prideaux Robards (born December 16, 1961) is an American actor, best known for his role as Henry Swinton in the film ''A.I. Artificial Intelligence''. Early life and education Robards was born in New York City, the son of actor Jason Roba ...

are Jason Sr.'s grandsons.

Acting career

Robards's film career lasted primarily from 1921 to 1961. His

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

credits include the musical ''Turn To The Right'' (1917). Robards's best known stage role was John Marvin in the long-running hit ''Lightnin. Robards's connection to the part caused his son to equate him to the character of James Tyrone in '' Long Day's Journey Into Night,'' which Jason Jr. played on Broadway in 1956 and on screen in 1962. In the play, Tyrone is an actor whose career is limited by his identification with a single part, The Count of Monte Cristo. Jason Jr. would later say "One of the most damaging things for me, I realize now, was playing a drunk in the play ''Long Day's Journey Into Night.'' In the play, the drunk's father is a failed artist and his mother was a drug addict. It was only after years of analysis I realized I was acting out events in my own life on stage." In one of his television appearances, Robards played Judge Hesby in the 1958 episode "Dead Reckoning" of the

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

Warner Brothers Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

series, '' Colt .45'', starring

Wayde Preston Wayde Preston (born William Erksine Strange; September 10, 1929 – February 6, 1992) was an American actor cast from 1957 to 1960 in the lead role in 67 episodes of the ABC/ Warner Bros. Western television series, '' Colt .45''. Background ...

. The Robardses, father and son, acted on stage together only once, in

Budd Schulberg Budd Schulberg (born Seymour Wilson Schulberg, March 27, 1914 – August 5, 2009) was an American screenwriter, television producer, novelist and sports writer. He was known for his novels '' What Makes Sammy Run?'' and ''The Harder They Fall;'' ...

's ''The Disenchanted'', a play inspired by the story of

F. Scott Fitzgerald Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (September 24, 1896 – December 21, 1940) was an American novelist, essayist, and short story writer. He is best known for his novels depicting the flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age—a term he popularize ...

. Jason Jr. won his only

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

for his performance. Robards Sr. died, aged 70, in Sherman Oaks, California, at his home.

Partial filmography

* '' The Land of Hope'' (1921) * ''

Footloose Widows ''Footloose Widows'' is a 1926 silent film feature comedy produced and distributed by Warner Bros., directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring Louise Fazenda and Jacqueline Logan. A print is preserved in the Library of Congress collection. A 16mm ...

'' (1926) * '' The Third Degree'' (1926) * ''

Tracked by the Police ''Tracked by the Police'' is a 1927 silent film produced and distributed by the Warner Bros. with a story written by Darryl Zanuck. It stars dog actor Rin Tin Tin. Ray Enright directed with 'Rinty's' costars being Jason Robards, Sr. and Virgin ...

'' (1927) * ''

Polly of the Movies ''Polly of the Movies'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Scott Pembroke and starring Jason Robards, Gertrude Short and Corliss Palmer. It is loosely based on Harry Leon Wilson's 1922 novel '' Merton of the Movies'' and its vario ...

'' (1927) * ''

Jaws of Steel ''Jaws of Steel'' is a 1927 American silent family adventure film directed by Ray Enright and featuring dog star Rin Tin Tin and Jason Robards, Sr. Warner Bros. produced and distributed the film. Darryl Zanuck, under the alias Gregory Rogers, ...

'' (1927) * '' Wild Geese'' (1927) * ''

Streets of Shanghai ''Streets of Shanghai'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Louis J. Gasnier and written by Harry Braxton and Jack Natteford. The film, starring Pauline Starke, Kenneth Harlan, and Eddie Gribbon, was released by Tiffany-Stahl Produ ...

'' (1927) * '' On Trial'' (1928) * '' The Isle of Lost Ships'' (1929) * ''

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...

'' (1929) * ''

The Flying Marine ''The Flying Marine'' is a 1929 American action film directed by Albert S. Rogell and starring Ben Lyon, Shirley Mason (actress), Shirley Mason and Jason Robards Sr. The film centers around a tale of brothers romancing the same girl. ''The Flying ...

'' (1929) * '' Some Mother's Boy'' (1929) * ''Trifles'' (1930) * '' Peacock Alley'' (1930) * ''

The Jazz Cinderella ''The Jazz Cinderella'' is a 1930 American romantic drama film directed by Scott Pembroke and starring Myrna Loy, Jason Robards Sr. and Nancy Welford.Leider p.323 In Britain it was released under the alternative title of ''Love Is Like That''. ...

'' (1930) * ''

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

'' (1930) * '' Crazy That Way'' (1930) * ''

Charlie Chan Carries On ''Charlie Chan Carries On'' (1930) is the fifth novel in the Charlie Chan series by Earl Derr Biggers. Plot summary Inspector Duff, a Scotland Yard detective and friend of Chan's, first introduced in '' Behind That Curtain'', is pursuing a murde ...

'' (1931) * '' Salvation Nell'' (1931) * ''

The Law of the Tong ''The Law of the Tong'' is a 1931 American pre-Code crime film directed by Lewis D. Collins and starring Phyllis Barrington, John Harron and Jason Robards Sr.Pitts p.394 Synopsis A dance hall hostess becomes mixed up in a gang smuggling ill ...

'' (1931) * ''

Discarded Lovers ''Discarded Lovers'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code mystery film directed by Fred C. Newmeyer. Plot summary Discarded Lovers is a murder mystery. Early in the film a blonde bombshell movie star is murdered and her body is found in a car. She ...

'' (1932) * ''

Docks of San Francisco ''Docks of San Francisco'' is a 1932 American pre-Code crime film directed by George B. Seitz and starring Mary Nolan, Jason Robards Sr. and Marjorie Beebe. It was originally released by Mayfair Pictures, and later re-released by Commonwealth ...

'' (1932) * ''

The Pride of the Legion ''The Pride of the Legion'' is a 1932 American pre-Code crime film directed by Ford Beebe Ford Beebe (November 26, 1888 – November 26, 1978) was a screenwriter and director. He entered the film business as a writer around 1916 and over the n ...

'' (1932) * '' Slightly Married'' (1932) * '' A Strange Adventure'' (1932) * ''

Damaged Lives ''Damaged Lives'' is a 1933 Canadian/American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code exploitation film directed by Edgar G. Ulmer. The screenplay is based on the French play ''Les Avariés'' (1901) by Eugène Brieux.Bogdanovich, Peter (1997) (New York: K ...

'' (1933) * '' Devil's Mate'' (1933) * ''

Dance Hall Hostess ''Dance Hall Hostess'' is a 1933 American drama film directed by B. Reeves Eason and starring Helen Chandler, Jason Robards Sr. and Alberta Vaughn.Fetrow p.135 Cast * Helen Chandler as Nora Marsh * Jason Robards Sr. as Jerry Raymond * Edward ...

'' (1933) * ''

Ship of Wanted Men ''Ship of Wanted Men'' is a 1933 American pre-Code crime film directed by Lewis D. Collins and starring Dorothy Sebastian, Fred Kohler and Leon Ames.Pitts p.334 The film's sets were designed by the art director Art director is the title for ...

'' (1933) *''

Carnival Lady ''Carnival Lady'' is a 1933 American drama film directed by Howard Higgin and starring Boots Mallory, Allen Vincent and Donald Kerr.Pitts p.166 The film's sets were designed by the art director Lewis J. Rachmil. Cast * Boots Mallory as Penny ...

'' (1933) * ''

Public Stenographer ''Public Stenographer'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code romantic comedy. Stenographer Ann McNair (Lane) en route to a job mistakenly gets in the wrong car and ends up at a wild party thrown by Jim Martin (Collier). While in pursuit of McNair, Martin i ...

'' (1933) * '' Corruption'' (1933) * '' The Woman Condemned'' (1934) * '' Broadway Bill'' (1934) * ''

Ladies Crave Excitement ''Ladies Crave Excitement'' is a 1935 American action–comedy drama film released by Mascot Pictures, directed by Nick Grinde and starring Norman Foster, Evalyn Knapp and Esther Ralston. Plot Don Phelan, the ace newsreel reporter, falls in lo ...

'' (1935) * '' Clipped Wings'' (1937) * '' Flight to Fame'' (1938) * '' Cipher Bureau'' (1938) * '' Sky Patrol'' (1939) * '' The Mad Empress'' (1939) * '' The Fighting Marines'' (1939) serial * '' The Fatal Hour'' (1940) * ''

Betrayal from the East ''Betrayal from the East'' is a 1945 American spy drama film starring Lee Tracy and Nancy Kelly. The film was directed by William A. Berke and based on the book ''Betrayal from the East: The Inside Story of Japanese Spies in America'' by Alan ...

'' (1945) * '' Man Alive'' (1945) * '' Isle of the Dead'' (1945) * '' Bedlam'' (1946) * '' Trail Street'' (1947) * '' Desperate'' (1947) * '' Thunder Mountain'' (1947) * ''

Guns of Hate ''Guns of Hate'' is a 1948 Western film''Guns of Hate''
at

'' (1948) * '' Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House'' (1948) * ''

Western Heritage ''Western Heritage'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by Wallace Grissell. The film is a Tim Holt B Western about land robbers and forgers in the southwest. Although based on an original screenplay the film features Chito Rafferty fro ...

'' (1948) * '' Fighting Father Dunne'' (1948) * ''

Return of the Bad Men ''Return of the Bad Men'', also known as ''Return of the Badmen'', is a 1948 American Western film directed by Ray Enright and starring Randolph Scott, Robert Ryan and Anne Jeffreys.Jarlett p.192-93 A loose sequel to the 1946 film ''Badman's T ...

'' (1948) * '' Rimfire'' (1949) * ''

Horsemen of the Sierras ''Horsemen of the Sierras'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Fred F. Sears and written by Barry Shipman. The film stars Charles Starrett, Smiley Burnette, T. Texas Tyler, Lois Hall, Tommy Ivo and John Dehner. The film was released ...

'' (1949) * ''

Impact Impact may refer to: * Impact (mechanics), a high force or shock (mechanics) over a short time period * Impact, Texas, a town in Taylor County, Texas, US Science and technology * Impact crater, a meteor crater caused by an impact event * Impac ...

'' (1949) * '' The Second Woman'' (1950) * ''

Cimarron City Cimarron City is a town in Logan County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 150 at the 2010 census, a 39.4 percent gain over the figure of 110 in 2000.

'' (

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed be ...

) (1958) * ''

Wild in the Country ''Wild in the Country'' is a 1961 American musical–drama film directed by Philip Dunne and starring Elvis Presley, Hope Lange, Tuesday Weld, and Millie Perkins. Based on the 1958 novel ''The Lost Country'' by J. R. Salamanca, the screenplay ...

'' (1961)

References

External links

* * *
Jason Robards Sr. – Rotten Tomatoes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robards, Jason Sr. 1892 births 1963 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male film actors American male silent film actors American male stage actors Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) People from Hillsdale, Michigan