Robert Paul Burns (September 1, 1878 – January 16, 1966) was an American film actor and

director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...

. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1908 and 1952 as well as directing 13 films between 1915 and 1916. Burns was born in

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

, Pennsylvania, and died in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, California. He played Pokes in the ''Pokes and Jabbs'' silent comedies of the mid 1910s, with

Walter Stull Walter Stull (January 27, 1879 – June 10, 1961) was an American film actor and director. He appeared in more than 90 films between 1911 and 1917 as well as directing 13 films between 1915 and 1916. He was born in Nebraska, and died in Los ...

as Jabbs and frequently featuring Babe (Oliver) Hardy. Later he supported Hardy in his partnership with

Stan Laurel Stan Laurel ( ; born Arthur Stanley Jefferson; 16 June 1890 – 23 February 1965) was an English comic actor, director and writer who was in the comedy double act, duo Laurel and Hardy. He appeared with his comedy partner Oliver Hardy in 107 sh ...

at the

Hal Roach Studios Hal Roach Studios was an American motion picture and, through its TV production subsidiary, Hal Roach Television Corporation, television production studio. Known as ''The Laugh Factory to the World'', it was founded by producer Hal Roach and busin ...

in several of their early short comedies and feature films.

Selected filmography

* ''

Uncivil War Birds ''Uncivil War Birds'' is a 1946 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 90th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring ...

'' (1946) as Union Soldier (uncredited) * ''

Gents Without Cents ''Gents Without Cents'' is a 1944 short subject directed by Jules White and starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 81st of 190 Stooge shorts released by Columbia Pictures. ...

'' (1944) Audience Member (uncredited) * ''

Air Raid Wardens ''Air Raid Wardens'' is a 1943 comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Laurel and Hardy. It was the first of two feature films starring the duo for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Plot Set during World War II, Stan and Ollie face a series of m ...

'' (1943) as Townsman in Gymnasium (uncredited) * ''

Loco Boy Makes Good ''Loco Boy Makes Good'' is a 1942 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 60th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starri ...

'' (1942) as Nightclub Patron (uncredited) * ''

I'll Never Heil Again ''I'll Never Heil Again'' is a 1941 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 56th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures sta ...

'' (1941) as King's aide (uncredited) * '' Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb'' (1938) as Room service waiter (uncredited) * ''

Dizzy Doctors ''Dizzy Doctors'' is a 1937 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 21st entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the co ...

'' (1937) as Man in the Wheelchair (uncredited) * '' Jail Bait'' (1937) as Prison Warden (uncredited) * ''

A Pain in the Pullman ''A Pain in the Pullman'' is a 1936 short subject directed by Preston Black starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 16th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures s ...

'' (1936) as Man in Berth (uncredited) * ''

Dummy Ache ''Dummy Ache'' is a 1936 American short comedy film directed by Leslie Goodwins. It was nominated for an Academy Award at the 9th Academy Awards in 1936 for Best Short Subject (Two-Reel). The Academy Film Archive preserved ''Dummy Ache'' in 20 ...

'' (1936) as Gardner (uncredited) * ''

Ants in the Pantry ''Ants in the Pantry'' is a 1936 short subject directed by Preston Black starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 12th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starr ...

'' (1936) as Guest with mouse down his back (uncredited) * ''

Pop Goes the Easel ''Pop Goes the Easel'' is a 1935 short film, short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the seventh entry in the series released by Columbia Pic ...

'' (1935) as Professor Fueller (uncredited) * '' Restless Knights'' (1935) as Guard (uncredited) * ''

Them Thar Hills ''Them Thar Hills'' is a 1934 American comedy short film directed by Charley Rogers and starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.Thames, Stephanie"Them Thar Hills (1934)" article, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), Time Warner, Inc., New York, N.Y. Retr ...

'' (1934) as Officer (uncredited) * ''

Three Little Pigskins ''Three Little Pigskins'' is a 1934 short subject directed by Raymond McCarey and starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Jerry Howard). It is the fourth entry in the series released by Columbia Pi ...

'' (1934) as Man panhandled by Larry (uncredited) * '' Babes In Toyland'' (1934) as Townsman (uncredited) * ''

Helpmates ''Helpmates'' is a Laurel and Hardy Pre-Code short film A short film is a film with a low running time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time o ...

'' (1932) as Neighbor with hose (uncredited) * '' The Chimp'' (1932) as Tenant (uncredited) * '' Any Old Port!'' (1932) as Justice of peace (uncredited) * ''

Pardon Us ''Pardon Us'' is a 1931 American pre-Code Laurel and Hardy film. It was the team's first starring feature-length comedy film, produced by Hal Roach, directed by James Parrott, and originally distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1931. Plot Du ...

'' (1931) as Prisoner with toothache (uncredited) * ''

The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case ''The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case'' is a Laurel and Hardy pre-Code comedy horror film released in 1930. It is one of a handful of three-reel comedies they made, running 28 minutes. It was directed by James Parrott, produced by Hal Roach and dis ...

'' (1930) as Nervous Relative (uncredited) * '' Below Zero'' (1930) as "Blind" Man/Deadbeat diner (uncredited) * ''

Another Fine Mess ''Another Fine Mess'' is a 1930 short comedy film directed by James Parrott and starring Laurel and Hardy. It is based on the 1908 play ''Home from the Honeymoon'' by Arthur J. Jefferson, Stan Laurel's father, and is a remake of their earl ...

'' (1930) as Bicyclist (uncredited) * '' The Try Out'' (1916) as Pokes * ''

Hired and Fired ''Hired and Fired'' is a 1916 American silent comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy. Plot Cast * Bobby Burns as Pokes * Walter Stull as Jabbs * Ethel Marie Burton * Florence McLaughlin * Oliver Hardy (as Babe Hardy) See also * List of Ame ...

'' (1916) as Pokes * '' Busted Hearts'' (1916) as Pokes * '' Frenzied Finance'' (1916) as Pokes * ''

Chickens The chicken (''Gallus gallus domesticus'') is a domesticated subspecies of the red junglefowl (''Gallus gallus''), originally native to Southeast Asia. It was first domesticated around 8,000 years ago and is now one of the most common and w ...

'' (1916) as Pokes * '' This Way Out'' (1916) as Pokes * '' Ups and Downs'' (1915) as Pokes * '' Mixed and Fixed'' (1915) as Pokes * '' Speed Kings'' (1915) as Pokes * '' Strangled Harmony'' (1915) as Pokes * '' Love, Pepper and Sweets'' (1915) as Pokes * '' Pressing Business'' (1915) as Pokes * ''

The Midnight Prowlers ''The Midnight Prowlers'' is a 1915 American silent comedy film produced by the Vim Comedy Company featuring Bobby Burns & Walter Stull. Plot Mr. and Mrs. Jabbs live in a suburban retreat where the police force is conspicuous by its absen ...

'' (1915) as Pokes

External links

* 1878 births 1966 deaths American male film actors American male silent film actors Male actors from Philadelphia Film directors from Pennsylvania Hal Roach Studios actors 20th-century American male actors {{US-film-actor-1870s-stub