Robert Emhardt (July 24, 1914 – December 26, 1994) was an American character actor who worked on stage, in film and on television. Emhardt was frequently cast as a villain, often a crooked businessman or corrupt politician.

Early years

Emhardt was born in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Career

Emhardt studied acting at the

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA; ) is a drama school in London, England, that provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London, close to the Senat ...

in London. He began 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 ...

career in the 1930s as an

understudy In theater, an understudy, referred to in opera as cover or covering, is a performer who learns the lines and blocking or choreography of a regular actor, actress, or other performer in a play. Should the regular actor or actress be unable to a ...

for the equally heavyset

Sydney Greenstreet Sydney Hughes Greenstreet (December 27, 1879 – January 18, 1954) was a British-American actor. While he did not begin his career in films until the age of 61, he had a run of significant motion pictures in a Hollywood career lasting throu ...

. Emhardt made his stage debut in ''The Pirate'' (1942). One of the founding members of the Actors Studio, Emhardt was a member of the cast of the original 1952 Broadway stage production of ''

The Seven Year Itch ''The Seven Year Itch'' is a 1955 American romantic comedy film directed by Billy Wilder, from a screenplay he co-wrote with George Axelrod from the 1952 three-act play. The film stars Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell, who reprised his stage role. ...

''. He won the Critics Circle Award for best supporting actor for his performance in ''Life with Mother'' in the 1948–1949 season. His notable film appearances include '' 3:10 to Yuma'' (1957) and ''

Underworld U.S.A. ''Underworld U.S.A.'' (also known as ''Underworld USA'') is a 1961 American neo-noir crime film produced, written, and directed by Samuel Fuller. It tells the story of a 14-year-old boy who goes to enormous lengths to get revenge against the mob ...

'' (1961). On television, he was the first actor to play Mac Cory on '' Another World''. He also made over 250 guest appearances on such series as '' Alfred Hitchcock Presents'', ''

Riverboat A riverboat is a watercraft designed for inland navigation on lakes, rivers, and artificial waterways. They are generally equipped and outfitted as work boats in one of the carrying trades, for freight or people transport, including luxury un ...

'', '' The Tall Man'', ''

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'', ''

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'', '' Stoney Burke'', ''

Going My Way ''Going My Way'' is a 1944 American musical comedy drama film directed by Leo McCarey and starring Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald. Written by Frank Butler and Frank Cavett based on a story by McCarey, the film is about a new young priest tak ...

'', ''

The Untouchables Untouchables or The Untouchables may refer to: American history * Untouchables (law enforcement), a 1930s American law enforcement unit led by Eliot Ness * ''The Untouchables'' (book), an autobiography by Eliot Ness and Oscar Fraley * ''The U ...

'', ''

Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and 4 short stories, all of which involve a c ...

'' (3 episodes), ''

The Naked City ''The Naked City'' (aka ''Naked City'') is a 1948 American film noir directed by Jules Dassin, starring Barry Fitzgerald, Howard Duff, Dorothy Hart and Don Taylor. The film, shot almost entirely on location in New York City, depicts the poli ...

'', '' The Tom Ewell Show'', ''

My Three Sons ''My Three Sons'' is an American television sitcom that aired from September 29, 1960, to April 13, 1972. The series was broadcast on ABC during its first five seasons, before moving to CBS for the remaining seasons. ''My Three Sons'' chroni ...

'', '' The Wild Wild West,

The Andy Griffith Show ''The Andy Griffith Show '' is an American situation comedy television series that aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in color. The ...

'' (2 episodes), '' Gunsmoke'', ''

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. ''The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'' is an American spy fiction television series produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television and first broadcast on NBC. The series follows secret agents, played by Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, who work for a secret ...

'', ''

The Invaders ''The Invaders'' is an American science-fiction television series created by Larry Cohen that aired on ABC for two seasons, from 1967 to 1968. Roy Thinnes stars as David Vincent, who after stumbling across evidence of an in-progress invas ...

'', '' Adam-12'', ''

The Brady Bunch ''The Brady Bunch'' is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz that aired from September 26, 1969, to March 8, 1974, on ABC. The series revolves around a large blended family with six children. The show aired for five seasons and, afte ...

'', ''

Cannon A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...

'', ''

Kojak ''Kojak'' is an American action crime drama television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theodopolis "Theo" Kojak. Taking the time slot of the popular ''Cannon'' series, ...

'', ''

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (also known simply as ''Mary Tyler Moore'') is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns and starring actress Mary Tyler Moore. The show originally aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977. Mo ...

'', '' Bonanza'', '' Have Gun, Will Travel'' and ''

Quincy, M.E. ''Quincy, M.E.'' (also called ''Quincy'') is an American mystery medical drama television series from Universal Studios that aired on NBC from October 3, 1976, to May 11, 1983. Jack Klugman starred in the title role as a Los Angeles County med ...

''.

Personal life and death

Emhardt married actress Martha Jones (later married name

Martha Rofheart Martha Rofheart (born Martha Jane Jones, 1917–1990) was an American writer of historical novels, an actress and early in her career, a model. Early life She was born Martha Jane Jones, May 27, 1917 in Louisville, Kentucky, to Evan Jones a ...

) in 1943, with whom he had appeared on Broadway in both ''Harriet'' and ''The Pirate''. After the dissolution of the marriage, he married actress Silvia Sideli in 1954. They had a son named Christopher and a daughter named Mia. Emhardt died of heart problems at his home in Ojai, California, on December 26, 1994, at the age of 80.

Filmography

*''Marco Millions'' (1939 TV movie) *''The Dagmar Story'' (1951 TV movie) – Pa Lewis *'' The Iron Mistress'' (1952) – Gen. Cuny *''

The Big Knife ''The Big Knife'' is a 1955 melodrama directed and produced by Robert Aldrich from a screenplay by James Poe based on the 1949 play by Clifford Odets. The film stars Jack Palance, Ida Lupino, Wendell Corey, Jean Hagen, Rod Steiger, Shelley Winte ...

'' (1955) (uncredited) *'' 3:10 to Yuma'' (1957) – Mr. Butterfield, Stage Line Owner *'' The Badlanders'' (1958) – Sample *'' Wake Me When It's Over'' (1960) – Joab Martinson *''

'' (1961) – Earl Connors *'' The Intruder'' (1962) – Verne Shipman *''

Kid Galahad ''Kid Galahad'' is a 1962 American musical film starring Elvis Presley as a boxer. It was released by United Artists in August 1962 and opened at #9 at the American box office. ''Variety'' ranked it #37 on its list of the top-grossing films of 19 ...

'' (1962) – Maynard *'' The Magnificent Yankee'' (1965 TV movie) – Henry Adams *''Diamond Jim: Skulduggery in Samantha'' (1965 TV movie) – Schindler *'' The Group'' (1966) – Mr. Andrews *''

Hostile Guns ''Hostile Guns'' is a 1967 Western starring George Montgomery, Tab Hunter and Yvonne de Carlo. Plot Cast * George Montgomery as Sheriff Gid McCool *Tab Hunter as Mike Reno *Yvonne De Carlo as Laura Mannon *Brian Donlevy as Marshal Willett * ...

'' (1967) – R. C. Crawford *'' Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?'' (1968) – Otis J. Hendershot Sr *'' Rascal'' (1969) – Constable *''

Change of Habit ''Change of Habit'' is a 1969 American crime drama musical film directed by William A. Graham and starring Elvis Presley and Mary Tyler Moore. Written by James Lee, S.S. Schweitzer, and Eric Bercovici, based on a story by John Joseph and Ric ...

'' (1969) – The Banker *'' Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came'' (1970) – Lester Calhoun *''The Boy Who Stole the Elephant'' (1970 TV movie) – Cy Brown *'' Lawman'' (1971) – Hersham *''Lock, Stock and Barrel'' (1971 TV movie) – Sam Hartwig *'' Scorpio'' (1973) – Man in hotel *''

The Stone Killer ''The Stone Killer'' is a 1973 American action neo noir thriller film produced and directed by Michael Winner and starring Charles Bronson. It came out in between '' The Mechanic'' (1972) and ''Death Wish'' (1974), all three of which teamed up ac ...

'' (1973) – Fussy Man *''Night Games'' (1974 TV movie) – Judge Ambrose *''Rex Harrison Presents Stories of Love'' (1974 TV movie) *'' It's Alive'' (1974) – The Executive *''The F.B.I. Story: The FBI Versus Alvin Karpis, Public Enemy Number One'' (1974 TV movie) – Dr. Willards *''Demon, Demon'' (1975 TV movie) *'' Alex & the Gypsy'' (1976) – Judge Ehrlinger *''The Chopped Liver Brothers'' (1977 TV movie) – Duffy *'' Fraternity Row'' (1977) – Brother Bob Abernathy *''

It Happened One Christmas ''It Happened One Christmas'' is a 1977 American made-for-television Christmas fantasy- comedy-drama film directed by Donald Wrye, starring Marlo Thomas, Wayne Rogers, Orson Welles, and Cloris Leachman. It originally premiered as ''The ABC Sunda ...

'' (1977 TV movie) – Judge *''

The Seniors ''The Seniors'' (sometimes ''The Senior'' or simply ''Seniors'') is a 1978 American comedy film about four college seniors who open a bogus sex clinic, which unexpectedly mushrooms into a multimillion-dollar business. Directed by Rod Amateau, t ...

'' (1978) – The Bishop *'' Die Sister, Die!'' (1978) – James Lendon Price *''Pleasure Cove'' (1979 TV movie) – Fat Man at Bar *'' Institute for Revenge'' (1979 TV movie) – Senator *''Aunt Mary'' (1979 TV movie) – Berwick *'' Forced Vengeance'' (1982) – Carl Gerlich

Partial television credits

*'' Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' (episode "Crackpot") (1957) – Mr. Moon *'' Kraft Television Theatre'' (two-part teleplay "

All the King's Men ''All the King's Men'' is a 1946 novel by Robert Penn Warren. The novel tells the story of charismatic populist governor Willie Stark and his political machinations in the Depression-era Deep South. It was inspired by the real-life story of U ...

") (1958) *'' Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond'' (episode "Make Me Not a Witch") (1959) – Priest *''

'' (episode "Case of the Ominous Outcast") (1960) – J.J. Flaherty *''

'' (episode "Static") (1961) – Professor Ackerman * ''

The Barbara Stanwyck Show ''The Barbara Stanwyck Show'' is an American anthology drama television series which ran on NBC from September 1960 to September 1961. Barbara Stanwyck served as hostess, and starred in all but four of the half-hour productions. The four in which ...

'' (episode "The Golden Acres") (1961) – Ben

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Emhardt, Robert 1914 births 1994 deaths 20th-century American male actors Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art American male film actors American male stage actors American male television actors Male actors from Indianapolis Male actors from Los Angeles People from Ojai, California