Robert Kenneth Christy (November 23, 1894 – July 23, 1962) was an American television, film, and radio character actor.

Early life

Robert Kenneth Christy was born on November 23, 1964, in Greenville, Pennsylvania, to Laura E Christy (née Campbell) and Francis Marion Christy.

Personal life

Ken married Wilma J Hildebrand in

Detroit, Michigan Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

on June 14, 1920, and they later divorced. He then married Barbara Ellen Meikle (professionally known as Barbara Bronell) of

Spokane, Washington Spokane ( ) is the most populous city in eastern Washington and the county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It lies along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south o ...

, a well-known dancer in the area. The couple toured together in Charles George's "Sensations of 1927", a musical comedy revue road show, which featured Barbara's dancing and Ken's comedy. They had one son together. According to census records, Christy served in

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

.Sies, Luther F. (2014). ''Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920–1960'', 2nd ed., Vol. 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. . p. 16.

Career

Radio

The actor started his career on radio programs. From the early 1930s, he had a nearly three-decade career on radio, with roles in such popular radio series as ''

Little Orphan Annie ''Little Orphan Annie'' was a daily American comic strip created by Harold Gray and print syndication#Comic strip syndication, syndicated by the Tribune Media Services. The strip took its name from the 1885 poem "Little Orphant Annie" by James ...

'', where he played Mr. Bonds, ''

The Great Gildersleeve ''The Great Gildersleeve'' was a radio situation comedy broadcast in the United States from August 31, 1941 to 1958. Initially written by Leonard Lewis Levinson, it was one of broadcast history's earliest spin-off programs. The series was buil ...

'' on which he was a regular as the chief of police, as well as portraying several dramatic roles on ''

Suspense Suspense is a state of anxiety or excitement caused by mysteriousness, uncertainty, doubt, or undecidedness. In a narrative work, suspense is the audience's excited anticipation about the plot or conflict (which may be heightened by a viol ...

''. A versatile artist, he was equally comfortable in serious minded programs, such as ''The Fifth Horseman'', ''Gangbusters'', '' Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy'', and '' The Saint'' as he was with comedy series like '' Amos 'n' Andy'', '' A Day in the Life of Dennis Day'', and '' The Alan Young Show''. In the 1940s, he portrayed Inspector Danton on '' Mystery Is My Hobby''.

Film and television

Christy appeared in 144 films and television programs between 1940 and 1962 and many of his films list him as uncredited. His first acting role was in the film '' Foreign Correspondent'' (1940) and his career ended with the television series '' Shannon'' (1962). A 1950 newspaper article cited the predominance of police roles in Christy's film background, saying, "in 98 out of 100 film roles he has played an officer of the law." Christy said, "I'd give anything to stop making arrests and be the guy who commits the crime for once." Christy's film credits include '' Burma Convoy'' (1941), '' Tarzan's New York Adventure'' (1942), '' Cheaper by the Dozen'' (1950), ''

Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard is a boulevard in the central and western part of Los Angeles, California, United States, that stretches from the Pacific Coast Highway (California), Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, Pacific Palisad ...

'' as the homicide detective trying to question Norma Desmond (1950), '' A Place in the Sun'' (1951), ''

Abbott and Costello Go to Mars ''Abbott and Costello Go to Mars'' is a 1953 American science fiction film, science fiction comedy film starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello and directed by Charles Lamont. It was produced by Howard Christ ...

'' (1953), '' Inside Detroit'' (1956), and ''Utah Blaine'' (1957). His television credits include '' Gang Busters'' (1952), '' Meet Corliss Archer'' (1954), ''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American Western (genre), Western anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program was ...

'' (1955), ''

I Love Lucy ''I Love Lucy'' is an American sitcom that originally aired on CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes spanning six seasons. The series starred Lucille Ball and her husband Desi Arnaz, along with Vivian ...

'' (1954–56), '' Celebrity Playhouse'' (1956), '' Dragnet'' (1957), and '' Wagon Train'' (1958), '' General Electric Theater'' (1959), '' M Squad'' (1960), ''

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

'' (1961) and ''

Bat Masterson Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the late 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was bo ...

'' (1961).

Death

Christy died in Hollywood at the age of 67. His remains are interred at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood.Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14000 Famous Persons by Scott Wilson

Selected filmography

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Christy, Ken 1894 births 1962 deaths Male actors from Pennsylvania American male film actors American male radio actors American military personnel of World War I American male television actors People from Greenville, Pennsylvania 20th-century American male actors