Robert Laman Webber (October 14, 1924 – May 19, 1989) was an American actor. He appeared in dozens of films and television series, roles that included Juror No. 12 in the 1957 film '' 12 Angry Men''.

Early life

Webber was born in Santa Ana, California, the son of Alice and Robert Webber, who was a merchant seaman.Robert Webber, Actor, Dies at 64.
Bourdain, C.S. ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' via

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music ...

. Published 20 May 1989. He graduated from

Oakland Technical High School Oakland Technical High School, known locally as Oakland Tech or simply "Tech", is a public high school in Oakland, California, United States, and is operated under the jurisdiction of the Oakland Unified School District. It is one of six comprehe ...

. Webber enlisted in the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through ...

in 1943 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 ...

, serving in the

1st Marine Amphibious Corps The I Marine Amphibious Corps, or I MAC, was a formation of the United States Marine Corps. It was created on 1 October 1942, with most of the staff transferred from Amphibious Corps, Pacific Fleet (ACPF). It was then deployed to the South Pacif ...

and later in the 6th Marine Division as a 776-Radio Operator (Low Speed)Webber, Robert L, PFC.
togetherweserved.com. Retrieved May 19, 2021. in

Guam Guam (; ch, Guåhan ) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States (reckoned from the geographic ce ...

and

Okinawa is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city ...

. Webber was discharged in 1945 as a private first class and was awarded the

Navy Combat Action Ribbon The Combat Action Ribbon (CAR, ), is a high precedence United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States Marine Corps military decoration awarded to United States sea service members "who have actively participated in ground or ...

, the

Navy Presidential Unit Citation The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the uniformed services of the United States, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed ene ...

, the

American Campaign Medal The American Campaign Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was first created on November 6, 1942, by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was intended to recognize those military members who had perf ...

, the Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal and the

World War II Victory Medal The World War II Victory Medal is a service medal of the United States military which was established by an Act of Congress on 6 July 1945 (Public Law 135, 79th Congress) and promulgated by Section V, War Department Bulletin 12, 1945. The Wo ...

Career

Webber had a 40-year career as a character actor, during which he appeared as Juror No. 12 in '' 12 Angry Men'' (1957), as Dudley Moore's gay lyricist in '' 10'' (1979), and the father of Cybill Shepherd's character in the hit series '' Moonlighting''. Other notable turns were in the movies '' The Sandpiper'', in which he played a supporting role as

Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was a British-American actress. She began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 1950s. ...

's character's former lover; '' The Nun and the Sergeant'', in which he played the lead; '' The Dirty Dozen'', where he played a general who disliked the character portrayed by Lee Marvin; a sadistic lowlife encountered by

Paul Newman Paul Leonard Newman (January 26, 1925 – September 26, 2008) was an American actor, film director, race car driver, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, three ...

in the anti-hero detective drama '' Harper''; a hitman in Sam Peckinpah's '' Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia''; and a killer in the

Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...

spy spoof '' The Silencers''. Other notable movies include '' The Great White Hope'' (1970), '' Midway'' (1976), ''

Revenge of the Pink Panther ''Revenge of the Pink Panther'' is a 1978 comedy film. It is the sixth film in '' The Pink Panther'' comedy film series. Released in 1978, it is the final on-set performance of Peter Sellers in the role of Inspector Jacques Clouseau. It was al ...

'' (1978), '' Private Benjamin'' (1980), '' S.O.B.'' (1981), and '' Wild Geese II'' (1985). Several of the movies were directed by

Blake Edwards Blake Edwards (born William Blake Crump; July 26, 1922 – December 15, 2010) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. Edwards began his career in the 1940s as an actor, but he soon began writing screenplays and radio s ...

. On television, Webber appeared in many of the popular dramas of the time, including four episodes of ''

The Rockford Files ''The Rockford Files'' is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner that aired on the NBC network from September 13, 1974 to January 10, 1980, and remains in syndication. Garner portrays Los Angeles private investigat ...

'' and three of ''

Cannon A cannon is a large-caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder duri ...

''. Webber also appeared in ''Barnaby Jones'' in the episode titled “Final Judgment”.

Death

Webber died from

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that results in the progressive loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles. ALS is the most comm ...

(also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) at age 64 in Malibu, California.

Filmography

Film

* '' Highway 301'' (1950) as William B. Phillips * '' 12 Angry Men'' (1957) as Juror #12 * '' The Nun and the Sergeant'' (1962) as Sgt. McGrath * '' The Stripper'' (1963) as Ricky Powers * ''

Hysteria Hysteria is a term used colloquially to mean ungovernable emotional excess and can refer to a temporary state of mind or emotion. In the nineteenth century, hysteria was considered a diagnosable physical illness in women. It is assumed that ...

'' (1965) as Chris Smith * '' The Sandpiper'' (1965) as Ward Hendricks * '' The Third Day'' (1965) as Dom Guardiano * '' The Silencers'' (1966) as Sam Gunther * '' Harper'' (1966) as Dwight Troy * ''Tecnica di un omicidio '' (1966) as Clint Harris * '' Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round'' (1966) as Milo Stewart * '' The Dirty Dozen'' (1967) as Brigadier General James Denton * '' Don't Make Waves'' (1967) as Rod Prescott * ''Every Man Is My Enemy'' (1967) as Tony Costa * '' Manon 70'' (1968) as Ravaggi * '' The Big Bounce'' (1969) as Bob Rodgers * '' The Great White Hope'' (1970) as Dixon * ''Macédoine'' (1971) as Sandeberg * '' $'' (1971) as Attorney * '' Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia'' (1974) as Sappensly * '' Flatfoot in Hong Kong'' (1975) as Sam Accardo * ''Soldat Duroc, ça va être ta fête'' (1975) as Sergeant John Lewis * '' Midway'' (1976) as Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher * '' Hit Squad '' (1976) as Mr. Duglas * '' Death Steps in the Dark'' (1977) as Inspector * ''

Madame Claude Fernande Grudet (6 July 1923 – 15 December 2015), also known as Madame Claude, was a French brothel keeper. In the 1960s, she was the head of a French network of call girls who worked especially for dignitaries and civil servants. Biogra ...

'' (1977) as Howard * ''

The Accuser Accuser may refer to: * Someone who accuses * Satan Satan,, ; grc, ὁ σατανᾶς or , ; ar, شيطانالخَنَّاس , also known as Devil in Christianity, the Devil, and sometimes also called Lucifer in Christianity, is an ...

'' aka L'Imprécateur (1977) as Le cadre américain * '' The Choirboys'' (1977) as Deputy Chief Riggs * '' Casey's Shadow'' (1978) as Mike Marsh * ''

'' (1978) as Philippe Douvier * '' Gardenia'' (1979) as Caruso * '' 10'' (1979) as Hugh * ''

Courage - Let's Run ''Courage fuyons'' is a French romantic comedy film directed by Yves Robert. Plot Martin Belhomme is a coward since his birth, also home cowardice is passed from generation to generation. After a childhood spent in the tumult of the Occupation, ...

'' (1979) as Charley * ''Tous vedettes'' (1980) as Harry Stabling * '' Private Benjamin'' (1980) as Col. Clay Thornbush * '' Sunday Lovers'' (1980) as Henry Morrison (segment "The French Method") * '' S.O.B.'' (1981) as Ben Coogan * '' Wrong Is Right'' (1982) as Harvey * '' Who Dares Wins'' (1982) as General Ira Potter * '' Wild Geese II'' (1985) as Robert McCann * ''

Nuts Nut often refers to: * Nut (fruit), fruit composed of a hard shell and a seed, or a collective noun for dry and edible fruits or seeds * Nut (hardware), fastener used with a bolt Nut or Nuts may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Com ...

'' (1987) as Francis MacMillan

Television and radio

the 1969 pontiacs ,"breakaway " comercial..; * ''Starlight Theatre'' (1950) * ''Out There'' (1951–1952) as Captain Bill Hurley * ''Tales of Tomorrow'' (1952) * ''

Studio One Studio One or Studio 1 may refer to: * Studio One (software), digital audio workstation software, developed by PreSonus * ''Studio One'' (American TV series), a 1948–1958 American television anthology series * ''Studio One'' (Emirati TV progra ...

'' (1952) as Skeets * ''Eye Witness'' (1953) * '' Suspense'' (1954) as James Forsythe * ''Three Steps to Heaven'' (1953) as Chip Morrison * '' Robert Montgomery Presents'' (1954) * '' The Phil Silvers Show'' (1956) as Ego * ''

Kraft Television Theatre ''Kraft Television Theatre'' is an American anthology drama television series running from 1947 to 1958. It began May 7, 1947 on NBC, airing at 7:30pm on Wednesday evenings until December of that year. It first promoted MacLaren's Imperial Chee ...

'' (1955–1957) * '' Playhouse 90'' (1958) as Malcolm Field * '' The Rifleman'' (1959) as Wes Carney * '' Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond'' ('The Captain's Guests', episode) (1959) as Andrew Courtney * ''Play of the Week'' (1960) * ''

Checkmate Checkmate (often shortened to mate) is any game position in chess and other chess-like games in which a player's king is in check (threatened with ) and there is no possible escape. Checkmating the opponent wins the game. In chess, the king is ...

'' (1961) as Miles Archer * '' The Investigators'' (1961) as Bert Crayne * ''

Thriller Thriller may refer to: * Thriller (genre), a broad genre of literature, film and television ** Thriller film, a film genre under the general thriller genre Comics * ''Thriller'' (DC Comics), a comic book series published 1983–84 by DC Comics i ...

'' (1961) as Arthur Henshaw * ''The Paradine Case'' (1962) as Andre Latour * ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was r ...

'' (1959–1962) as Paul Brett, Harrison Fell, Edward Gibson * ''Stoney Burke'' (1962) as Roy Hazelton * '' The Dick Powell Show'' (1961–1962) as Captain John Wycliff * '' Route 66'' (1962) as Frank Bridenbaugh * '' The Defenders'' (1962–1963) as Douglas, MichaelHillyer, Father Phelps, * '' Naked City'' (1963) as Gordon Lanning * ''The Greatest Show on Earth'' (1963) as Rudy * '' The Nurses'' (1963) as Arthur Luskin * '' Arrest and Trial'' (1963) as George Morrison * '' Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre'' (1963) as Stuart Landsman * '' Ben Casey'' (1963) as Slim * '' The Fugitive'' (1964) as Harlan Guthrie * ''Espionage'' (1964) as Jack Hanley * ''Brenner'' (1964) * ''

Mr. Broadway Mr. Broadway may refer to: * ''Mr. Broadway'' (TV series), an American adventure and drama television series * ''Mr. Broadway'' (film), a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film * '' Mr. Broadway: Tony's Greatest Broadway Hits'', a 1962 album by T ...

'' (1964) as Hogan * ''

The Outer Limits ''The Outer Limits'' or ''Outer Limits'' may refer to: Television * ''The Outer Limits'' (1963 TV series), a black-and-white science fiction series that aired from 1963 to 1965 * ''The Outer Limits'' (1995 TV series), a revival of the older series ...

'' (1964) as Ikar * '' Kraft Suspense Theatre'' (1964–1965) as David Henderson, Robert Burke * '' The Rogues'' (1965) as Guy Gabriel * ''

The Name of the Game Name of the Game may refer to: Television * ''The Name of the Game'' (TV series), a 1968–1971 American drama ** ''Fame Is the Name of the Game'', a 1966 American television film and pilot for the series * "The Name of the Game" (''Grey's Anato ...

'' (1968) as William McKendricks * '' Journey to the Unknown'' (1969) as Manservant * '' Special Branch'' (1969) as Mr. Snell * '' The Bold Ones: The Lawyers'' (1969) as Sam Rand * ''The Movie Murderer'' (1970) as Karel Kessler * ''The Men From Shiloh'', rebranded name of '' The Virginian'' (1970) as Jackson Reed * '' San Francisco International Airport'' (1970) * ''Hauser's Memory'' (1970) as Dorsey * '' The Young Lawyers'' (1971) as Sergeant Fielder * ''

Mannix ''Mannix'' is an American detective television series that ran from 1967 to 1975 on CBS. It was created by Richard Levinson and William Link, and developed by executive producer Bruce Geller. The title character, Joe Mannix, is a private in ...

'' (1971) as Tom Carlson * '' The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes'' (1971) as Commissioner of Oaths * ''Thief'' (1971) as James Calendar * ''Cutter'' (1972) as Meredith * '' Banacek'' (1972) as Jerry Brinkman * '' Mission: Impossible'' (1972) as Charles Rogan * '' Love, American Style'' (1972) * '' Banyon'' (1972) * '' Search'' (1973) as Matthew Linden * '' Hawkins'' (1973) as Carl Vincent * '' Griff'' (1973) as Alan Gilbert * ''

Double Indemnity ''Double Indemnity'' is a 1944 American crime film noir directed by Billy Wilder, co-written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler, and produced by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Sistrom. The screenplay was based on James M. Cain's 1943 novel of the same t ...

(1973)'' as Edward Norton * '' The Magician'' as Zellman * '' Tenafly'' (1973) as Kent * '' Kojak'' (1973) as David Lawrence * ''Murder or Mercy'' (1974) as Dr. Eric Stoneman * '' Ironside'' (1973–1974) as Del Hogan, Burton * ''

'' (1971–1974) as McMillan, Clay Spencer, Barney Shaw, 4x03 Voice From The Grave as Jake McVea (Hitman) * ''

The Manhunter ''The Manhunter'' is an American crime drama that was part of CBS' lineup for the 1974–1975 television season. The series was produced by Quinn Martin and starred Ken Howard as Dave Barret, a 1930s-era private investigator from Idaho. Syno ...

'' (1974) * '' The Streets of San Francisco'' (1974) as Al Cooper * '' McCloud'' (1971–1975) as Jack Faraday, Fritz August * ''Death Stalk'' (1975) as Hugh Webster * ''

Switch In electrical engineering, a switch is an electrical component that can disconnect or connect the conducting path in an electrical circuit, interrupting the electric current or diverting it from one conductor to another. The most common type ...

'' (1975) as Paul Sinclair * ''

S.W.A.T. In the United States, a SWAT team (special weapons and tactics, originally special weapons assault team) is a police tactical unit that uses specialized or military equipment and tactics. Although they were first created in the 1960s to ...

'' (1975) as McVea, Mike Simon * ''

Police Woman The integration of women into law enforcement positions can be considered a large social change. A century ago, there were few jobs open to women in law enforcement. A small number of women worked as correctional officers, and their assignment ...

'' (1975) as Julian Lord * '' McMillan & Wife'' (1977) as Charles Meridio * '' 79 Park Avenue'' (1977) as John Hackson DeWitt * '' Barnaby Jones'' (1975–1978) as Maxwell Strager, Gene Gates * '' The Young Runaways'' (1978) as Fred Lockhart * '' Kaz'' (1978) * ''

'' (1975–1979) as Senator Evan Murdock, Bob Coleman, Roman Clementi, Harold Jack Coombs * '' Quincy, M.E.'' (1977–1979) as Dr. John Franklin * ''The Streets of L.A.'' (1979) as Ralph Salkin * '' Tenspeed and Brown Shoe'' (1980) as LaCrosse * ''The Two Lives of Carol Letner'' (1981) as Ed Leemans * '' Darkroom'' (1981) as Greg Conway * '' Bret Maverick'' (1982) as Everest Sinclair * ''Not Just Another Affair'' (1982) as Professor Wally Dawson * '' Don't Go to Sleep'' (1982) as Dr. Cole * '' Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land'' (1983) as Felix Duncan * '' Shooting Stars'' (1983) as Woodrow Norton * ''Getting Physical'' (1984) as Hugh Gibley * ''

No Man's Land No man's land is waste or unowned land or an uninhabited or desolate area that may be under dispute between parties who leave it unoccupied out of fear or uncertainty. The term was originally used to define a contested territory or a dump ...

'' (1984) as Will Blackfield * '' Cover Up' (1984) as Mason Carter * '' Half Nelson'' (1985) * ''In Like Flynn'' (1985) as Colonel Harper * ''Assassin'' (1986) as Calvin Lantz * ''The Ladies'' (1987) as Jerry * '' Moonlighting'' (1986–1988) as Alexander Hayes * '' Something Is Out There'' (1988) as Commissioner Estabrook

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Webber, Robert 1924 births 1989 deaths American people of English descent American male film actors American male television actors Deaths from motor neuron disease United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II United States Marines 20th-century American male actors Neurological disease deaths in California