Robert Kellard, aka Robert Stevens (April 23, 1915 – January 13, 1981), was an American actor who appeared in over 60 films between 1937 and 1951.

Early years

Kellard was born Robert Dorsey Kellard April 23, 1915, in Los Angeles, California. His father, Ralph Kellard (1884–1955), was also an actor. Robert Kellard graduated from

Hollywood High School Hollywood High School is a four-year public secondary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District, located at the intersection of North Highland Avenue and West Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California. His ...

and attended Santa Monica Junior College for a year. His older brother, Thomas, acted in films briefly before going into a different career.

Career

Film

Kellard entered in Hollywood in 1937 in the film '' Annapolis Salute'', directed by

Christy Cabanne William Christy Cabanne (April 16, 1888 – October 15, 1950) was an American film director, screenwriter, and silent film actor. Biography Born in 1888 in St. Louis, Missouri, Cabanne (pronounced CAB-a-nay) was educated at the Culver Military ...

. (Another source says, "Robert made his film debut in ... ''A Connecticut Yankee'' (1931).")After that, he bounced back and forth from starring roles in low-budget films like '' Island in the Sky'', '' Time Out for Murder'', '' While New York Sleeps'', and supporting roles in '' Boy Friend'' and '' Here I Am a Stranger'', until he found the time to make two serials for

Republic Pictures Republic Pictures is currently an acquisition-only label owned by Paramount Pictures. Its history dates back to Republic Pictures Corporation, an American film studio that originally operated from 1935 to 1967, based in Los Angeles, California ...

. Although third billed, Kellard was ostensibly the hero in Republic’s adaptation of

Sax Rohmer Arthur Henry "Sarsfield" Ward (15 February 1883 – 1 June 1959), better known as Sax Rohmer, was an English novelist. He is best remembered for his series of novels featuring the master criminal Fu Manchu."Rohmer, Sax" by Jack Adrian in David ...

’s '' Drums of Fu Manchu''. He followed this by playing the sidekick of Allan 'Rocky' Lane in the

Zane Grey Pearl Zane Grey (January 31, 1872 – October 23, 1939) was an American author and dentist. He is known for his popular adventure novels and stories associated with the Western genre in literature and the arts; he idealized the American frontier ...

comic strip based '' King of the Royal Mounted''. Kellard then starred two serials for

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...

, ''

Perils of the Royal Mounted ''Perils of the Royal Mounted'' is a 1942 American Northern (genre), Northern film. It was the 18th Serial (film), serial released by Columbia Pictures. It starred Robert Kellard (aka Robert Stevens) as the hero, Sgt. Mack MacLane of the Royal Mo ...

'' and '' Tex Granger''. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1942 and returned to Columbia in 1946, accepting supporting roles in the films '' Gilda'' and '' The Jolson Story''. He also displayed his comedic chops in several

Three Stooges The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short-subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical, farce, and slapstick comedy. Six total ...

comedies, such as '' Rhythm and Weep'', '' They Stooge to Conga'' and ''

Squareheads of the Round Table ''Squareheads of the Round Table'' is a 1948 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges ( Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 106th entry in the series released by Columbia Pi ...

''. His best known role with the Stooges was that of the menacing pirate Black Louie in '' Three Little Pirates''. After Kellard signed a contract with

in 1942, the studio changed his name to Robert Stevens.

Stage

On Broadway, Kellard performed in ''Mother Lode'' (1937) and ''Hitch Your Wagon'' (1937).

Television

Kellard made his last appearance in a 1951 episode of ABC's Western television series, ''

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 a ...

''.

Personal life

Kellard's marriage to BeBe LaMonte ended in divorce in 1942. His nephews, Rick and Phil Kellard are both television writers and producers.

Death

Kellard died of post-obstructive pneumonia in the Wadsworth V.A. Medical center in

Los Angeles, California 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, ...

, on January 13, 1981, at age 65.

Selected filmography

* '' A Connecticut Yankee'' (1931) * '' Annapolis Salute'' (1937) – Cadet * '' Second Honeymoon'' (1937) – Reporter (uncredited) * '' Nothing Sacred'' (1937) – Nightclub Patron (uncredited) * '' Change of Heart'' (1938) – Artist (uncredited) * '' Walking Down Broadway'' (1938) – Bob Randall * '' Island in the Sky'' (1938) – Peter Vincent * '' Battle of Broadway'' (1938) – Jack Bundy * '' Josette'' (1938) – Reporter * '' Gateway'' (1938) – Reporter (uncredited) * '' My Lucky Star'' (1938) – Pennell * '' Time Out for Murder'' (1938) – Johnny Martin * '' Always in Trouble'' (1938) – Pete Graham * '' While New York Sleeps'' (1938) – Malcolm Hunt * '' Wife, Husband and Friend'' (1939) – Bank Teller (uncredited) * '' Boy Friend'' (1939) – Tommy Bradley * '' Stop, Look and Love'' (1939) – Dick Grant * '' Here I Am a Stranger'' (1939) – College Student * '' Drums of Fu Manchu'' (1940, Serial) – Allan Parker * '' King of the Royal Mounted'' (1940, Serial) – Tom Merritt, Jr. * '' Phantom of Chinatown'' (1940) – Tommy Dean * '' Prairie Pioneers'' (1941) – Roberto Ortega * '' Down in San Diego'' (1941) – Bell Captain (uncredited) * '' Gentleman from Dixie'' (1941) – Lance Terrill * '' Escort Girl'' (1941) – Drake Hamilton * '' Shadow of the Thin Man'' (1941) – Policeman (uncredited) * '' Man from Headquarters'' (1942) – Hotel Clerk * '' Joe Smith, American'' (1942) – Mel Lewis (uncredited) * '' Hello, Annapolis'' (1942) – George Crandall * '' Sweetheart of the Fleet'' (1942) – Ens. George 'Tip' Landers * ''

'' (1942, Serial) – Sgt. Mack MacLane RCMP * '' Parachute Nurse'' (1942) – Minor Role (uncredited) * '' My Sister Eileen'' (1942) – Bus Driver (uncredited) * '' The Spirit of Stanford'' (1942) – Cliff Bonnard * '' Smith of Minnesota'' (1942) – George Smith * '' Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood'' (1942) – Ticket Clerk (uncredited) * ''Pardon My Gun'' (1942) – Henchman (uncredited) * '' The Fighting Buckaroo'' (1943) – Fletch Thatcher (uncredited) * '' Throw a Saddle on a Star'' (1946) – Burton (uncredited) * '' Gilda'' (1946) – Man at Masquerade (uncredited) * '' Night Editor'' (1946) – Doc Cochrane * '' That Texas Jamboree'' (1946) – Henchman Tom * '' The Return of Rusty'' (1946) – Sgt. Jack Beals * '' The Unknown'' (1946) – James Wetherford * '' Sing While You Dance'' (1946) – Buzz Nelson * '' The Jolson Story'' (1946) – Henry – Orchestra Leader * '' Lone Star Moonlight'' (1946) – Eddie Jackson * '' Blondie's Big Moment'' (1947) – Joe (uncredited) * '' The Thirteenth Hour'' (1947) – Truck Driver (uncredited) * '' The Lone Hand Texan'' (1947) – Boomer Kildea (uncredited) * '' Millie's Daughter'' (1947) – Hotel Clerk (uncredited) * '' Framed'' (1947) – Man in Coffee Shop (uncredited) * '' The Millerson Case'' (1947) – Dr. Prescott * '' The Corpse Came C.O.D.'' (1947) – Reporter (uncredited) * '' Roses Are Red'' (1947) – Interne * '' Tex Granger: Midnight Rider of the Plains'' (1948) – Tex Granger, The Night Rider * '' The Argyle Secrets'' (1948) – Melvin Rubin – Cop * '' Canon City'' (1948) – Officer Winston R. Williams * '' Bride of Vengeance'' (1949) – Guard (uncredited) * '' Too Late for Tears'' (1949) – Policeman (uncredited) * '' Red, Hot and Blue'' (1949) – Police Switchboard Operator (uncredited)

References

External links

*
Robert Kellard
a
threestooges.net
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kellard, Robert American male film actors American male television actors 1915 births 1981 deaths Male actors from Los Angeles 20th-century American male actors