Robert Desmond (16 December 1922 – 2002) was a British film and television actor of the 1950s and 1960s.
He started out in juvenile roles, making his film debut in 1948's ''
The Guinea Pig'' opposite
Richard Attenborough
Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough (; 29 August 192324 August 2014) was an English actor, film director, and Film producer, producer.
Attenborough was the president of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and the British Acade ...
. He appeared in a number of early television films such ''
Boys in Brown
''Boys in Brown'' is a 1949 black and white British drama film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Jack Warner, Richard Attenborough, Dirk Bogarde and Jimmy Hanley. It was written by Tully based on the 1940 play ''Boys in Brown'' by the ...
'', recreating the role of Spud Parker in the theatrical film version of 1949, again with Attenborough. He would appear opposite Attenborough one more time in ''
The Great Escape'' (1963), as Griffith the Tailor. Other films include ''
The Cockleshell Heroes
''The Cockleshell Heroes'' is a 1955 British Technicolor war film with Trevor Howard, Anthony Newley, Christopher Lee, David Lodge and José Ferrer, who also directed. The film depicts a heavily fictionalised version of Operation Frankton, t ...
'' (1955), ''
Indiscreet'' (1958), ''
The Ugly Duckling
"The Ugly Duckling" () is a Danish literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875). It was first published on 11 November 1843 in '' New Fairy Tales. First Volume. First Collection'', with three other tale ...
'' (1959), ''
Sink the Bismarck!
''Sink the Bismarck!'' is a 1960 black-and-white CinemaScope British war film based on the 1959 book '' The Last Nine Days of the Bismarck'' by C. S. Forester. It stars Kenneth More and Dana Wynter and was directed by Lewis Gilbert. To date ...
'' (1960), ''
The Bulldog Breed
''The Bulldog Breed'' is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Robert Asher and starring Norman Wisdom. It was written by Henry Blyth, Jack Davies and Wisdom.
Plot
Norman Puckle, a well-meaning but clumsy grocer's assistant, cannot seem to ...
'' (1960) and ''
The Best of Enemies'' (1961).
On television he appeared in the UK's first daily soap opera ''
Sixpenny Corner
''Sixpenny Corner'' was the UK's first daily TV soap opera, broadcast by ITV from September 1955 until June 1956. The programme was created by Jonquil Antony and Hazel Adair; the latter later co-created ''Crossroads''. The 15-minute episodes ce ...
'' as Stan Norton and later starred in the popular sixties soap ''
Compact
Compact as used in politics may refer broadly to a pact or treaty; in more specific cases it may refer to:
* Interstate compact, a type of agreement used by U.S. states
* Blood compact, an ancient ritual of the Philippines
* Compact government, a t ...
'' as Adrian Coombs. In 1967 he played Tod Miller in another soap opera ''
Crossroads
Crossroads is a junction where four roads meet.
Crossroads, crossroad, cross road(s) or similar may also refer to:
Film and television Films
* ''Crossroads'' (1928 film), a 1928 Japanese film by Teinosuke Kinugasa
* ''Cross Roads'' (film), a ...
''. In 1960 he starred as Private Billy "Noddy" Baker in the third series of popular sitcom ''
The Army Game
''The Army Game'' is a British television sitcom that aired on ITV from 19 June 1957 to 20 June 1961. It was the first ITV sitcom and was made by Granada, and created by Sid Colin. It follows the exploits of Hut 29, a dysfunctional group of ...
''.
Other television appearances include ''
The Adventures of Robin Hood
''The Adventures of Robin Hood'' is a 1938 American Epic film, epic swashbuckler film from Warner Bros. Pictures. It was produced by Hal B. Wallis and Henry Blanke, directed by Michael Curtiz and William Keighley, and written by Norman Reilly Ra ...
'', ''Dial 999'', ''ITV Play of the Week'' and ''
The Avengers
Avenger(s) or The Avenger(s) may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Marvel Comics universe
* Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes
**Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes of "The Infinity Sag ...
''.
Filmography
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Desmond, Robert
2002 deaths
English male film actors
English male television actors
1922 births
Male actors from London
Alumni of the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts