Robert J. Wilke
Prolific American character actor of primarily villainous roles. The son of German parents, Cincinnati feed-store manager August Wilke and his wife Rose, Robert Joseph Wilke grew up in Cincinnati. He worked as a lifeguard at a Miami, Florida, hotel, where he made contacts in the film business. He was able to obtain work as a stuntman and continued as such until the mid-'40s, when he began getting actual roles in low-budget westerns and serials. A prominent appearance as one of the heavies in Le train sifflera trois fois (1952) led to work in higher-quality films. He worked extensively in television as well as movies, and became an enormously familiar face, though a fairly anonymous one to the general public. His weathered visage made him a perfect western bad guy, but he occasionally played sympathetic parts as well, as in Les moissons du ciel (1978). An expert golfer, he was said by his friend Claude Akins to have earned more money on the golf course than he ever did in movies. He died in 1989. -
Filmography
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
as Self (archive footage)
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
as Self (archive footage)
Stripes
as Gen. Barnicke
Stripes
as Gen. Barnicke
Days of Heaven
as The Farm Foreman
Days of Heaven
as The Farm Foreman
Wild and Wooly
as Demas Scott
Wild and Wooly
as Demas Scott
Santee
as Deaks (as Robert Wilke)
Santee
as Deaks (as Robert Wilke)
The Boy Who Cried Werewolf
as The Sheriff
The Boy Who Cried Werewolf
as The Sheriff
The Rookies
as Officer Shaw
The Rookies
as Officer Shaw
They Call It Murder
as Sheriff Rex Brandon
They Call It Murder
as Sheriff Rex Brandon
The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler
as Hugh Fielding
The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler
as Hugh Fielding
A Gunfight
as Marshal Tom Cater
A Gunfight
as Marshal Tom Cater
The Cheyenne Social Club
as Corey Bannister
The Cheyenne Social Club
as Corey Bannister
The Desperate Mission
as Gant
The Desperate Mission
as Gant
Tony Rome
as Ralph Turpin
Tony Rome
as Ralph Turpin
The Magnificent Stranger
as Sheriff McVey
The Magnificent Stranger
as Sheriff McVey
Smoky
as Jeff Nicks
Smoky
as Jeff Nicks
The Hallelujah Trail
as Chief Five Barrels
The Hallelujah Trail
as Chief Five Barrels
Fate Is the Hunter
as Stillman
Fate Is the Hunter
as Stillman
Shock Treatment
as Technician Mike Newton (as Robert Wilke)
Shock Treatment
as Technician Mike Newton (as Robert Wilke)
The Gun Hawk
as Johnny Flanders
The Gun Hawk
as Johnny Flanders
The Long Rope
as Ben Matthews
The Long Rope
as Ben Matthews
Spartacus
as Guard captain
Spartacus
as Guard captain
The Magnificent Seven
as Wallace
The Magnificent Seven
as Wallace
Never Steal Anything Small
as Lennie
Never Steal Anything Small
as Lennie
Man of the West
as Ponch
Man of the West
as Ponch
Return to Warbow
as Red
Return to Warbow
as Red
The Tarnished Angels
as Hank
The Tarnished Angels
as Hank
Hot Summer Night
as Tom Ellis (as Robert Wilke)
Hot Summer Night
as Tom Ellis (as Robert Wilke)
Gun the Man Down
as Matt Rankin
Gun the Man Down
as Matt Rankin
Written on the Wind
as Dan Willis
Written on the Wind
as Dan Willis
Canyon River
as Joe Graycoe
Canyon River
as Joe Graycoe
The Rawhide Years
as Neal (as Robert Wilke)
The Rawhide Years
as Neal (as Robert Wilke)
Raw Edge
as Sile Doty
Raw Edge
as Sile Doty
Backlash
as Jeff Welker
Backlash
as Jeff Welker
The Lone Ranger
as Cassidy
The Lone Ranger
as Cassidy
Wichita
as Ben Thompson
Wichita
as Ben Thompson
Smoke Signal
as Daly
Smoke Signal
as Daly
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
as First Mate of the Nautilus
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
as First Mate of the Nautilus
Two Guns and a Badge
as Moore - Outlaw
Two Guns and a Badge
as Moore - Outlaw
The Lone Gun
as Hort Moran (as Robert Wilke)
The Lone Gun
as Hort Moran (as Robert Wilke)
The Far Country
as Madden
The Far Country
as Madden
War Paint
as Trooper Grady
War Paint
as Trooper Grady
From Here to Eternity
as Sgt. Henderson (uncredited)
From Here to Eternity
as Sgt. Henderson (uncredited)
Arrowhead
as Sgt. Stone
Arrowhead
as Sgt. Stone
Cow Country
as Sledge
Cow Country
as Sledge
The Maverick
as Massey
The Maverick
as Massey
Wyoming Roundup
as Wyatt - Henchman
Wyoming Roundup
as Wyatt - Henchman
Fargo
as Link - Henchman
Fargo
as Link - Henchman
Cattle Town
as Keeno
Cattle Town
as Keeno
Hellgate
as Sgt. Maj. Kearn
Hellgate
as Sgt. Maj. Kearn
High Noon
as Jim Pierce
High Noon
as Jim Pierce
Road Agent
as Slab Babcock
Road Agent
as Slab Babcock
The Las Vegas Story
as Clayton (as Robert Wilke)
The Las Vegas Story
as Clayton (as Robert Wilke)
Hot Lead
as Stoney Dawson
Hot Lead
as Stoney Dawson
Pistol Harvest
as Andy Baylor
Pistol Harvest
as Andy Baylor
Cyclone Fury
as Henchman Bunco (as Bob Wilke)
Cyclone Fury
as Henchman Bunco (as Bob Wilke)
Saddle Legion
as Henchman Hooker
Saddle Legion
as Henchman Hooker
Mule Train
as Bradshaw - Henchman (uncredited)
Mule Train
as Bradshaw - Henchman (uncredited)
The Blonde Bandit
as Police Det. Walker
The Blonde Bandit
as Police Det. Walker
Coyote Canyon
as Deputy Sheriff Ed (as Bob Wilkie)
Coyote Canyon
as Deputy Sheriff Ed (as Bob Wilkie)
Flaming Fury
Flaming Fury
The Wyoming Bandit
as Sam
The Wyoming Bandit
as Sam
Laramie
as Cronin (uncredited)
Laramie
as Cronin (uncredited)
Homicide for Three
as Policeman
Homicide for Three
as Policeman
Daredevils of the Clouds
as Joe
Daredevils of the Clouds
as Joe
Carson City Raiders
as Ed Noble
Carson City Raiders
as Ed Noble
Web of Danger
as Station Wagon Driver
Web of Danger
as Station Wagon Driver
Law of the Canyon
as Knife-Throwing Henchman (uncredited)
Law of the Canyon
as Knife-Throwing Henchman (uncredited)
Buck Privates Come Home
as GI Buddy (uncredited)
Buck Privates Come Home
as GI Buddy (uncredited)
Twilight on the Rio Grande
as Henchman
Twilight on the Rio Grande
as Henchman
White Tie and Tails
as Starter (uncredited)
White Tie and Tails
as Starter (uncredited)
The Inner Circle
as Police Officer Cummings (as Bob Wilke)
The Inner Circle
as Police Officer Cummings (as Bob Wilke)
Rendezvous with Annie
as MP (uncredited)
Rendezvous with Annie
as MP (uncredited)
Traffic in Crime
as Hogan's Driver
Traffic in Crime
as Hogan's Driver
Passkey to Danger
as Police Sergeant
Passkey to Danger
as Police Sergeant
Badman's Territory
as Deputy Marshal (uncredited)
Badman's Territory
as Deputy Marshal (uncredited)
The Catman of Paris
as The Catman (uncredited)
The Catman of Paris
as The Catman (uncredited)
Rough Riders of Cheyenne
as Smoke - Henchman (as Bob Wilke)
Rough Riders of Cheyenne
as Smoke - Henchman (as Bob Wilke)
Sunset in El Dorado
as Curley Roberts
Sunset in El Dorado
as Curley Roberts
Bandits of the Badlands
as Keller
Bandits of the Badlands
as Keller
Hitchhike to Happiness
as Stage Hand (uncredited)
Hitchhike to Happiness
as Stage Hand (uncredited)
Santa Fe Saddlemates
as Rawhide
Santa Fe Saddlemates
as Rawhide
Lone Texas Ranger
as Henchman (uncredited)
Lone Texas Ranger
as Henchman (uncredited)
Corpus Christi Bandits
as Henchman Steve
Corpus Christi Bandits
as Henchman Steve
Earl Carroll Vanities
as Cab Driver
Earl Carroll Vanities
as Cab Driver
Sheriff of Cimarron
as Henchman Dobie
Sheriff of Cimarron
as Henchman Dobie
Faces in the Fog
as Photographer
Faces in the Fog
as Photographer
Vigilantes of Dodge City
as Bill
Vigilantes of Dodge City
as Bill
Sheriff of Sundown
as Bradley - Henchman (as Bob Wilke)
Sheriff of Sundown
as Bradley - Henchman (as Bob Wilke)
Code of the Prairie
Code of the Prairie
San Antonio Kid
as Henchman
San Antonio Kid
as Henchman
Bordertown Trail
as Henchman
Bordertown Trail
as Henchman
Call of the Rockies
as Deputy Jim
Call of the Rockies
as Deputy Jim
Cowboy and the Senorita
as Townsman (uncredited)
Cowboy and the Senorita
as Townsman (uncredited)
Hidden Valley Outlaws
as Rancher (uncredited)
Hidden Valley Outlaws
as Rancher (uncredited)
The Fighting Seabees
as Arriving Construction Worker (uncredited)
The Fighting Seabees
as Arriving Construction Worker (uncredited)
Whispering Footsteps
as Bank Customer
Whispering Footsteps
as Bank Customer
Dick Tracy vs. Crime Inc.
as Cutter Helmsman
Dick Tracy vs. Crime Inc.
as Cutter Helmsman
Sierra Sue
as Carnival Spectator (uncredited)
Sierra Sue
as Carnival Spectator (uncredited)
Adventures of Red Ryder
as Henchman
Adventures of Red Ryder
as Henchman
Grand Ole Opry
as Hillbilly (uncredited)
Grand Ole Opry
as Hillbilly (uncredited)
In Old Missouri
as Hillbilly
In Old Missouri
as Hillbilly
In Old Monterey
as Man on Wagon
In Old Monterey
as Man on Wagon
Daredevils of the Red Circle
as G-Man
Daredevils of the Red Circle
as G-Man
S.O.S Tidal Wave
as Man in TV Studio
S.O.S Tidal Wave
as Man in TV Studio
Star Reporter
as Reporter
Star Reporter
as Reporter
The Fighting Devil Dogs
as Marine in Shanghai (uncredited)
The Fighting Devil Dogs
as Marine in Shanghai (uncredited)
San Quentin
as Young Convict in Yard (uncredited)
San Quentin
as Young Convict in Yard (uncredited)
That Man's Here Again
as (uncredited)
That Man's Here Again
as (uncredited)