Robert Middlemass (September 3, 1883 – September 10, 1949) was an American playwright and stage actor, and later character actor with over 100 film appearances, usually playing detectives or policemen.(13 Feb 1937)
Mrs. Susan C. Middlemass
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

Biography

Middlemass was born in

New Britain, Connecticut New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately southwest of Hartford, Connecticut, Hartford. The city is part of the Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut, Capitol ...

. He graduated from

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

in 1909 and initially went into the insurance business, but soon went on the stage, joining the Castle Square Theatre stock company in Boston. He debuted on Broadway in September 1914 in ''The Bludgeon'' at the

Maxine Elliott Theatre Maxine Elliott's Theatre was originally a Broadway theatre at 109 West 39th Street in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. Built in 1908, it was designed by architect Benjamin Marshall of the Chicago-based firm Marshall and Fox, ...

.Sexennial Report Class of 1909 Harvard College
pp. 201-02 (1915) (self report from Middlemass) His best known play was a one-act melodrama written with Holworthy Hall (real name H.E. Porter, a college roommate) titled '' The Valiant'', which was also made into a film of the same name in 1929,Jones, Ken D., et al
Character People
p. 146 (1976) (full text not available online) ("Robert Middlemass appeared as a character actor in many films in the 1930s and 1940s, but he is known best as the author of The Valiant, a famous one-act play") and as '' The Man Who Wouldn't Talk'' in 1940. The play became a favorite for amateur and local theater groups(23 Sept 2009)
Holworthy Hall
Skaneateles (blog)McCulloh, T.H. (8 Nov 1995)

''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

'' and is still performed today.(28 Jan 2014)
Student-directed "The Valiant" slated for SFA's Downstage Theatre
Stephen F. Austin University News (example of more recent performance) Middlemass moved to

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, ...

around 1935 and began appearing in films. He died there in 1949.

Select theatre credits

* '' Buddies'' (1919–20) * ''For All of Us'' (1923–24) * ''

The Butter and Egg Man ''The Butter and Egg Man'' is a 1925 play by George S. Kaufman, the only play he wrote without collaborating. It was a Broadway theatre, Broadway hit during the 1925–26 season at the Longacre Theatre. Adapted to film six times, it is still perf ...

'' (1925–26)(13 April 1926)
How Sleight of Hand Helped Actor to Act
''

The Sun (New York) ''The Sun'' was a New York newspaper published from 1833 until 1950. It was considered a serious paper, like the city's two more successful broadsheets, ''The New York Times'' and the ''New York Herald Tribune''. ''The Sun'' was the first succ ...

'', p. 28 col. 7 * '' The Valiant'' (1926, one night on Broadway), first published in ''

McClure's ''McClure's'' or ''McClure's Magazine'' (1893–1929) was an American illustrated monthly periodical popular at the turn of the 20th century. The magazine is credited with having started the tradition of muckraking journalism (investigative journ ...

'' in 1921.The Valiant
''

'' (March 1921) * ''

Gambling Gambling (also known as betting or gaming) is the wagering of something of Value (economics), value ("the stakes") on a Event (probability theory), random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy (ga ...

'' (1929–30) * '' Small Miracle'' (1934–35)

Selected filmography

* '' Other Men's Daughters'' (1918) - Richard Ormsby * '' Five Thousand an Hour'' (1918) - Ashley Loring * '' The Winchester Woman'' (1919) - Alan Woodward * '' Party Wire'' (1935) - Judge Stephenson * '' Air Hawks'' (1935) - Martin Drewen * '' The Awakening of Jim Burke'' (1935) - Bill Duke * '' Unknown Woman'' (1935) - Hammacher * '' The Black Room'' (1935) - The Prosecutor (uncredited) * '' After the Dance'' (1935) - King * '' Atlantic Adventure'' (1935) - Harry Van Dieman * '' The Public Menace'' (1935) - Frentrup * '' She Couldn't Take It'' (1935) - Desk Sergeant (uncredited) * '' Grand Exit'' (1935) - Fire Chief Mulligan * ''

Crime and Punishment ''Crime and Punishment'' is a novel by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. It was first published in the literary journal '' The Russian Messenger'' in twelve monthly installments during 1866.

'' (1935) - Cop (uncredited) * '' One Way Ticket'' (1935) - Bender * ''Super-Speed'' (1935) - Wilson Gale * '' Too Tough to Kill'' (1935) - Hubbel * '' If You Could Only Cook'' (1935) - Chief Inspector (uncredited) * '' The Lone Wolf Returns'' (1935) - Chief of Detectives McGowan * '' Two Against the World'' (1936) - Bertram C. Reynolds * '' Dangerous Intrigue'' (1936) - Koenig (uncredited) * '' Muss 'em Up'' (1936) - Inspector Brock * '' You May Be Next'' (1936) - Dan McMahon * '' Frankie and Johnny'' (1936) - Minor Role (uncredited) * '' F-Man'' (1936) - Chief Cartwright * '' Nobody's Fool'' (1936) - Sharkey (uncredited) * ''

A Son Comes Home ''A Son Comes Home'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by E.A. Dupont and starring Mary Boland, Julie Haydon and Donald Woods (actor), Donald Woods. It was one of three films made by Dupont for Paramount Pictures.St. Pierre p.23 Plot Cast * ...

'' (1936) - Sheriff * ''

Grand Jury A grand jury is a jury empowered by law to conduct legal proceedings, investigate potential criminal conduct, and determine whether criminal charges should be brought. A grand jury may subpoena physical evidence or a person to testify. A grand ju ...

'' (1936) - Police Chief Brady (uncredited) * '' The Case of the Velvet Claws'' (1936) - Police Sgt. Wilbur Hoffman * '' Cain and Mabel'' (1936) - Mr. George, Cafe Proprietor * '' Hideaway Girl'' (1936) - Capt. Dixon * '' Hats Off'' (1936) - Tex Connolly * '' General Spanky'' (1936) - Overseer * '' Guns of the Pecos'' (1937) - Judge L.F. Blake * '' Trapped'' (1937) - Sol Rothert * '' A Day at the Races'' (1937) - Sheriff * '' The Last Train from Madrid'' (1937) - Militiaman (uncredited) * '' Meet the Boyfriend'' (1937) - McGrath * '' Charlie Chan on Broadway'' (1937) - Police Official (uncredited) * ''

Madame X ''Madame X'' (original title ''La Femme X'') is a 1908 Play (theatre), play by French playwright Alexandre Bisson (1848–1912). It was novelized in English and adapted for the American stage; it was also adapted for the screen sixteen times ...

'' (1937) - Prefect of Police (uncredited) * '' Navy Blue and Gold'' (1937) - Academy Superintendent * ''

45 Fathers ''45 Fathers'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by James Tinling, written by Frances Hyland and Albert Ray, and starring Jane Withers, Thomas Beck (actor), Thomas Beck, Louise Henry (actress), Louise Henry, Richard Carle, Nella Walker, and ...

'' (1937) - Lawyer Calhoun (uncredited) * '' The Bad Man of Brimstone'' (1937) - Schurz - Jury Foreman (uncredited) * '' Love Is a Headache'' (1938) - Police Commissioner (uncredited) * '' Blondes at Work'' (1938) - Boylan - Editor * '' Arsène Lupin Returns'' (1938) - Sergeant (uncredited) * '' Men Are Such Fools'' (1938) - Elevator-Starter (uncredited) * ''

Highway Patrol A highway patrol is a police unit, detail, or law enforcement agency created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways within a jurisdiction. They are also referred to in many countri ...

'' (1938) - J.W. Brady * '' I Am the Law'' (1938) - Moss Kitchell * ''

Spawn of the North ''Spawn of the North'' is a 1938 American adventure film directed by Henry Hathaway about rival fishermen in Alaska starring George Raft, Henry Fonda and Dorothy Lamour and featuring Akim Tamiroff and John Barrymore. ''Spawn of the North'' is b ...

'' (1938) - Davis (uncredited) * '' Hold That Co-ed'' (1938) - Campaign Committeeman (uncredited) * ''

The Mad Miss Manton ''The Mad Miss Manton'' is a 1938 American screwball comedy-mystery film directed by Leigh Jason and starring Barbara Stanwyck as fun-loving socialite Melsa Manton and Henry Fonda as newspaper editor Peter Ames. Melsa and her debutante friend ...

'' (1938) - District Attorney (uncredited) * '' Tarnished Angel'' (1938) - Police Chief Thomas (uncredited) * '' I Stand Accused'' (1938) - Norman L. Mitchell * '' The Cowboy and the Lady'' (1938) - Newspaper Chief (uncredited) * '' While New York Sleeps'' (1938) - James Sawyer * ''

Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...

'' (1938) - Track Official * '' Stand Up and Fight'' (1939) - Harkrider * '' Idiot's Delight'' (1939) - Hospital Commandant (uncredited) * '' Hotel Imperial'' (1939) - General Von Schwartzberg (uncredited) * '' Maisie'' (1939) - Doctor (uncredited) * '' Indianapolis Speedway'' (1939) - Edward Hart * '' The Magnificent Fraud'' (1939) - Morales * ''

Coast Guard A coast guard or coastguard is a Maritime Security Regimes, maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with cust ...

'' (1939) - Capt. Lyons * '' Stanley and Livingstone'' (1939) - Carmichael (uncredited) * ''

Blackmail Blackmail is a criminal act of coercion using a threat. As a criminal offense, blackmail is defined in various ways in common law jurisdictions. In the United States, blackmail is generally defined as a crime of information, involving a thr ...

'' (1939) - Desk Sergeant (uncredited) * ''

Espionage Agent ''Espionage Agent'' is a pre–World War II spy melodrama produced by Hal B. Wallis in 1939. Directed by Lloyd Bacon, ''Espionage Agent'', like many Warner Bros. movies, clearly identifies the Germans as the enemy. This was unlike many other mov ...

'' (1939) - Militant American Tourist (uncredited) * '' The Arizona Kid'' (1939) - General Stark * ''

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' is a 1939 American political comedy-drama film directed by Frank Capra, starring Jean Arthur and James Stewart, and featuring Claude Rains and Edward Arnold. The film is about a naive, newly appointed United ...

'' (1939) - 2nd Radio Announcer (uncredited) * '' Blondie Brings Up Baby'' (1939) - Abner Cartwright * '' The Amazing Mr. Williams'' (1939) - Police Commissioner (uncredited) * '' Slightly Honorable'' (1939) - Sen. Berry * '' Abe Lincoln in Illinois'' (1940) - Minor Role (uncredited) * '' Little Old New York'' (1940) - Nicholas Roosevelt * '' The Saint Takes Over'' (1940) - Captain Wade * '' The Captain Is a Lady'' (1940) - Captain Peterson (uncredited) * '' Pop Always Pays'' (1940) - Mr. Oberton * '' Gold Rush Maisie'' (1940) - Charlie - Camp Owner (uncredited) * '' Dulcy'' (1940) - The Real Schuyler Van Dyke (uncredited) * '' The Great Plane Robbery'' (1940) - Manager (uncredited) * '' The Man Who Wouldn't Talk'' (1940) * ''

Road to Zanzibar ''Road to Zanzibar'' is a 1941 American musical comedy film directed by Victor Schertzinger and starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour, and marked the second of seven pictures in the popular "'' Road to ...''" series made by the trio. ...

'' (1941) - Police inspector * '' They Met in Argentina'' (1941) - George Hastings (uncredited) * ''

Lady Scarface ''Lady Scarface'' is a 1941 American crime drama film directed by Frank Woodruff and starring Dennis O'Keefe, Judith Anderson, and Mildred Coles. It was produced and distributed by RKO Pictures. Plot The scar-faced gangster Slade is on the l ...

'' (1941) - Police Capt. Lovell (uncredited) * '' No Hands on the Clock'' (1941) - Police Chief Bates * ''

Torpedo Boat A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval ship designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs were steam-powered craft dedicated to ramming enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes. Later evolutions launched variants of ...

'' (1942) - Mr. Townsend * '' Klondike Fury'' (1942) - Sam Armstrong * '' The War Against Mrs. Hadley'' (1942) - Air Raid Warden (uncredited) * '' Daring Young Man'' (1942) - Drummond * '' The Payoff'' (1942) - Lester Norris * '' Johnny Doughboy'' (1942) - V.J. (uncredited) * '' Truck Busters'' (1943) - Landis * ''

Submarine Alert ''Submarine Alert'' is a 1943 American film directed by Frank McDonald (director), Frank McDonald, produced by Pine-Thomas Productions and released by Paramount Pictures. The film stars Richard Arlen, Wendy Barrie, Nils Asther, Roger Pryor, Marc L ...

'' (1943) - Johnny's Father (uncredited) * '' Bombardier'' (1943) - Officer (uncredited) * '' The Black Raven'' (1943) - Tim Winfield * '' Lady in the Death House'' (1944) - State's Attorney * '' Gambler's Choice'' (1944) - Thomas J. Dennis (uncredited) * '' Wilson'' (1944) - Lindley M. Garrison - Secretary of War (uncredited) * '' An American Romance'' (1944) - Mr. Jarrett (uncredited) * '' My Buddy'' (1944) - Judge (uncredited) * '' Main Street After Dark'' (1945) - Detective (uncredited) * '' A Sporting Chance'' (1945) - William Reardon * '' Mama Loves Papa'' (1945) - The Mayor (uncredited) * '' The Dolly Sisters'' (1945) - Oscar Hammerstein (uncredited) * '' Hold That Blonde'' (1945) - Police Captain (uncredited) * '' Masquerade in Mexico'' (1945) - Customs Official (uncredited) * ''

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 ...

'' (1946) - Lead Woodsman (uncredited) * '' The Trouble with Women'' (1947) - Pompus Regent (uncredited) (final film role)

References

External links

* *
The Valiant
''

'' (March 1921) {{DEFAULTSORT:Middlemass, Robert 1883 births 1949 deaths American male film actors Writers from New Britain, Connecticut Male actors from Connecticut 20th-century American male actors Harvard University alumni