Robert Paul Arthur (June 18, 1925 – October 1, 2008) was an American

motion picture A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmospher ...

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), l ...

who appeared in dozens of films in the 1940s and 1950s.

Biography

After working in radio and serving in the Navy during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, Arthur moved to Hollywood, where his first role was as

Rosalind Russell Catherine Rosalind Russell (June 4, 1907November 28, 1976) was an American actress, comedienne, screenwriter, and singer,Obituary '' Variety'', December 1, 1976, p. 79. known for her role as fast-talking newspaper reporter Hildy Johnson in the H ...

’s son in '' Roughly Speaking'' in 1945. He soon was signed to a studio contract with Warners and appeared in films including '' Too Young to Know'', '' Night and Day'' and '' Nora Prentiss''. He also appeared in the 1949 war film ''

Twelve O'Clock High ''Twelve O'Clock High'' is a 1949 American war film about aircrews in the United States Army's Eighth Air Force, who flew daylight bombing missions against Germany and Occupied France during the early days of American involvement in World War II ...

'' as the comic relief–providing Sgt. McIllhenny, in the 1951

Billy Wilder Billy Wilder (; ; born Samuel Wilder; June 22, 1906 – March 27, 2002) was an Austrian-American filmmaker. His career in Hollywood spanned five decades, and he is regarded as one of the most brilliant and versatile filmmakers of Classic Holl ...

film '' Ace in the Hole'', and in the 1950s television program ''

The Lone Ranger The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked former Texas Ranger who fought outlaws in the American Old West with his Native American friend Tonto. The character has been called an enduring icon of American culture. He first appeared in 1933 in ...

''. Arthur was known for playing youthful teenage or young adult roles. Arthur supported

Barry Goldwater Barry Morris Goldwater (January 2, 1909 – May 29, 1998) was an American politician and United States Air Force officer who was a five-term U.S. Senator from Arizona (1953–1965, 1969–1987) and the United States Republican Party, Republ ...

in the 1964 United States presidential election. In his later years, Arthur became an activist for gay rights on behalf of senior citizens, and was involved with the

Log Cabin Republicans The Log Cabin Republicans (LCR) is an organization within the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party which advocates for equal rights for LGBT in the United States, LGBT+ Americans. History Log Cabin Republicans was founded in 1977 ...

. Robert Arthur died in

Aberdeen, Washington Aberdeen () is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. The population was 17,013 at the 2020 census. The city is the economic center of Grays Harbor County, bordering the cities of Hoquiam and Cosmopolis. Aberdeen is occasi ...

, on October 1, 2008, from

heart failure Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is a syndrome, a group of signs and symptoms caused by an impairment of the heart's blood pumping function. Symptoms typically include shortness of breath, excessive fatigue, ...

, aged 83.

Partial filmography

*'' Roughly Speaking'' (1945) - Frankie at 17 *''

Mildred Pierce ''Mildred Pierce'' is a psychological drama by James M. Cain published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1941. A story of “social inequity and opportunity in America" set during the Great Depression, ''Mildred Pierce'' follows the trajectory of a lower- ...

'' (1945) - High School Boy (uncredited) *''

Danger Signal ''Danger Signal'' is a 1945 film noir starring Faye Emerson and Zachary Scott. The screenplay was adapted from the 1939 novel of the same name by Phyllis Bottome. Plot A mysterious pulp writer—and psychopath—named Ronnie Mason, steals a de ...

'' (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 Often called the most beloved and popular of college fraternities and sororities, fraternity songs, "The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" was written in 1911 by Byron D. Stokes (Albion College, Albion Class of 1913) and F. Dudleigh Vernor (Albion '14). S ...

'' (1946) - Harry Townsend *'' Nora Prentiss'' (1947) - Gregory Talbot *'' The Devil on Wheels'' (1947) - Todd Powell *''

Mother Wore Tights ''Mother Wore Tights'' is a 1947 Technicolor musical film starring Betty Grable and Dan Dailey as married vaudeville performers, directed by Walter Lang. This was Grable and Dailey's first film together, based on a book of the same name by Miri ...

'' (1947) - Bob Clarkman *'' Green Grass of Wyoming'' (1948) - Ken McLaughlin *''

Yellow Sky ''Yellow Sky'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by William A. Wellman and starring Gregory Peck, Richard Widmark, and Anne Baxter. The story is believed to be loosely adapted from William Shakespeare's '' The Tempest''. The screenpl ...

'' (1948) - Bull Run *''

Mother Is a Freshman ''Mother Is a Freshman'' is a 1949 American comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Loretta Young and Van Johnson. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Costume Design by Kay Nelson. Plot Abby Abbott lives in New Yor ...

'' (1949) - Beaumont Jackson *'' You're My Everything'' (1949) - Harold - College Boy in "Heart of a Co-Ed" *''

'' (1949) - Sgt. McIllhenny *''

September Affair ''September Affair'' is a 1950 American romantic drama film directed by William Dieterle and starring Joan Fontaine, Joseph Cotten, and Jessica Tandy. It was produced by Hal B. Wallis. Plot Marianne "Manina" Stuart (Joan Fontaine), a prominent ...

'' (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 ''Young Bess'' is a 1953 Technicolor biographical film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer about the early life of Elizabeth I, from her turbulent childhood to the eve of her accession to the throne of England. It stars Jean Simmons as Elizabeth and Ste ...

'' (1953) - Barnaby *''

Take the High Ground! ''Take the High Ground!'' is a 1953 American war film directed by Richard Brooks and starring Richard Widmark and Karl Malden as drill sergeants who must transform a batch of everyday civilians into soldiers during the Korean War. Plot In May 195 ...

'' (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 ''Three Violent People'' is a 1957 American Western film directed by Rudolph Maté and starring Charlton Heston, Anne Baxter, Gilbert Roland, Tom Tryon, Forrest Tucker, Bruce Bennett, and Elaine Stritch. Plot Former Confederate cavalryman Cap ...

'' (1956) - One-Legged Confederate Soldier (uncredited) *''

Hellcats of the Navy ''Hellcats of the Navy'' is a 1957 American black-and-white World War II submarine film drama from Columbia Pictures, produced by Charles H. Schneer and directed by Nathan Juran. The film stars Ronald Reagan and his wife, billed under her scree ...

'' (1957) - Freddy Warren *'' Young and Wild'' (1958) - Jerry Coltrin *''Wild Youth'' (1960) - Frankie

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Arthur, Robert 1925 births 2008 deaths American male film actors American male television actors Radio and television announcers Male actors from Washington (state) LGBT rights activists from the United States People from Aberdeen, Washington 20th-century American male actors