Robert Dudley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Robert Dudley (September 13, 1869 – September 15*, 1955) was a dentist turned film character actor who, in his 35-year career, appeared in more than 115 films. Dudley was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and was educated at Lake Forest College in Evanston, Illinois and Chicago, where he majored in oral surgery. In 1917 he appeared in his first film, Seven Keys to Baldpate, and then made three other silent films through 1921. After 1922 he worked consistently, appearing in three or four films a year, and making the transition to sound films in 1929 with The Bellamy Trial. Dudley often played characters with a quick temper, including jurors, shopkeepers, ticket agents, court clerks and justices of the peace, as well as an occasional farmer, hobo, or laborer. His performances in these small parts were frequently uncredited. In the 1940s, Dudley was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in six films written and directed by Sturges. His most distinctive and memorable role for Sturges was the "Wienie King" in 1942's The Palm Beach Story, the funny little self-made rich man with a big hat who spontaneously bankrolls Claudette Colbert and Joel McCrea on their escapade. The 5' 9" Dudley, who was the founder of the "Troupers Club of Hollywood", was married to Elaine Anderson, and they had two girls, Jewell and Patricia Lee. He made his final film, As Young as You Feel, in 1951, and died in 1955 in San Clemente, California. *[TMDb note: The California Death Index indicates that Mr. Dudley died on 12 November 1955. That date should therefore be considered accurate and official.]
Filmography
The Jackpot
as Simpkins (uncredited)
The Jackpot
as Simpkins (uncredited)
Strike It Rich
as Pop
Strike It Rich
as Pop
Race Street
as Pop (Watchman) (uncredited)
Race Street
as Pop (Watchman) (uncredited)
Sleep, My Love
as Bar Patron at The Maples
Sleep, My Love
as Bar Patron at The Maples
Mourning Becomes Electra
as Chemist (uncredited)
Mourning Becomes Electra
as Chemist (uncredited)
Christmas Eve
as Robert - Matilda's Chauffeur (uncredited)
Christmas Eve
as Robert - Matilda's Chauffeur (uncredited)
Magic Town
as Dickey
Magic Town
as Dickey
Living in a Big Way
as Carpenter
Living in a Big Way
as Carpenter
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
as Robert McDuffy
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
as Robert McDuffy
Singin' in the Corn
as Gramp McCoy
Singin' in the Corn
as Gramp McCoy
San Quentin
as Fuller (uncredited)
San Quentin
as Fuller (uncredited)
Gallant Journey
as Process Server (uncredited)
Gallant Journey
as Process Server (uncredited)
San Antonio
San Antonio
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry
Lady on a Train
Lady on a Train
Belle of the Yukon
as Storekeeper (uncredited)
Belle of the Yukon
as Storekeeper (uncredited)
The Doughgirls
as Hotel Waiter
The Doughgirls
as Hotel Waiter
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
as Man (uncredited)
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
as Man (uncredited)
Casanova Brown
as Justice Of The Peace
Casanova Brown
as Justice Of The Peace
It Happened Tomorrow
as Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
It Happened Tomorrow
as Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
Main Street Today
as Frank Hostetter (uncredited)
Main Street Today
as Frank Hostetter (uncredited)
Happy Land
as Old Man Bowers (uncredited)
Happy Land
as Old Man Bowers (uncredited)
Son of Dracula
as Justice of the Peace Jonathan Kirby (uncredited)
Son of Dracula
as Justice of the Peace Jonathan Kirby (uncredited)
Honeymoon Lodge
as Elderly Man
Honeymoon Lodge
as Elderly Man
The Ghost and the Guest
as Ben Bowron
The Ghost and the Guest
as Ben Bowron
The Palm Beach Story
as Wienie King
The Palm Beach Story
as Wienie King
All That Money Can Buy
as Lem (uncredited)
All That Money Can Buy
as Lem (uncredited)
Citizen Kane
as Photographer (uncredited)
Citizen Kane
as Photographer (uncredited)
The Lady Eve
as Husband on Ship (uncredited)
The Lady Eve
as Husband on Ship (uncredited)
When the Daltons Rode
as Pete Norris - Juror
When the Daltons Rode
as Pete Norris - Juror
Stranger on the Third Floor
as Postman (uncredited)
Stranger on the Third Floor
as Postman (uncredited)
Lucky Partners
as Bailiff (uncredited)
Lucky Partners
as Bailiff (uncredited)
Haunted House
as Hank Edwards
Haunted House
as Hank Edwards
The House of the Seven Gables
as Jury Foreman
The House of the Seven Gables
as Jury Foreman
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
as Reporter (uncredited)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
as Reporter (uncredited)
Yankee Doodle Goes to Town
as Shopkeeper (uncredited)
Yankee Doodle Goes to Town
as Shopkeeper (uncredited)
Zenobia
as Court Clerk
Zenobia
as Court Clerk
Almost a Gentleman
as Farmer
Almost a Gentleman
as Farmer
The Toast of New York
as Janitor
The Toast of New York
as Janitor
The Mighty Treve
as Rancher at Auction
The Mighty Treve
as Rancher at Auction
Fury
as Store Owner (uncredited)
Fury
as Store Owner (uncredited)
The Prisoner of Shark Island
as Druggist at Trial (uncredited)
The Prisoner of Shark Island
as Druggist at Trial (uncredited)
The Perfect Set-Up
as Theatre Employee Shooting Victim (uncredited)
The Perfect Set-Up
as Theatre Employee Shooting Victim (uncredited)
Paddy O'Day
as Robert - Chauffeur
Paddy O'Day
as Robert - Chauffeur
Frisco Kid
as Vigilante Leader (uncredited)
Frisco Kid
as Vigilante Leader (uncredited)
3 Kids and a Queen
as Shopkeeper
3 Kids and a Queen
as Shopkeeper
The Gilded Lily
as Store Clerk (uncredited)
The Gilded Lily
as Store Clerk (uncredited)
Wild Gold
as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Wild Gold
as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Midnight Mary
as Mannering's Night Watchman (uncredited)
Midnight Mary
as Mannering's Night Watchman (uncredited)
Face in the Sky
as Minister (uncredited)
Face in the Sky
as Minister (uncredited)
Three Wise Girls
as Lem - the Druggist
Three Wise Girls
as Lem - the Druggist
Broken Lullaby
Broken Lullaby
An American Tragedy
as Juror (uncredited)
An American Tragedy
as Juror (uncredited)
Scandal Sheet
as Flint's Secretary
Scandal Sheet
as Flint's Secretary
Conspiracy
as Mr. Christopher (uncredited)
Conspiracy
as Mr. Christopher (uncredited)
Dames Ahoy
as Parson
Dames Ahoy
as Parson
Wide Open
as Office Worker
Wide Open
as Office Worker
Burning Up
as Sheriff
Burning Up
as Sheriff
Dynamite
as Store Proprietor
Dynamite
as Store Proprietor
Big News
as Telegraph Editor
Big News
as Telegraph Editor
Shanghai Rose
as Reformer
Shanghai Rose
as Reformer
Fools for Luck
as Jim Simpson
Fools for Luck
as Jim Simpson
Skinner's Big Idea
as Gibbs
Skinner's Big Idea
as Gibbs
The Night Flyer
as Freddy
The Night Flyer
as Freddy
Casey at the Bat
as Farmer (uncredited)
Casey at the Bat
as Farmer (uncredited)
The Marriage Clause
as Secretary
The Marriage Clause
as Secretary
For Heaven's Sake
as Harold's Secretary (uncredited)
For Heaven's Sake
as Harold's Secretary (uncredited)
A Woman of the World
as French-speaking party guest
A Woman of the World
as French-speaking party guest
The Last Edition
as Yes Man
The Last Edition
as Yes Man
Kentucky Pride
as Preacher (uncredited)
Kentucky Pride
as Preacher (uncredited)
On the Stroke of Three
as Jasper Saddler
On the Stroke of Three
as Jasper Saddler
The Extra Girl
as Financier
The Extra Girl
as Financier
Sixty Cents an Hour
as Storekeeper
Sixty Cents an Hour
as Storekeeper
Nobody's Bride
as Uncle Peter Standish
Nobody's Bride
as Uncle Peter Standish
The Ninety and Nine
as Abner Blake
The Ninety and Nine
as Abner Blake
One a Minute
as Rogers' Attorney (uncredited)
One a Minute
as Rogers' Attorney (uncredited)
Traveling Salesman
as Pierce Gill
Traveling Salesman
as Pierce Gill
The Fourteenth Man
as Tidmarsh
The Fourteenth Man
as Tidmarsh
Out of a Clear Sky
as Father
Out of a Clear Sky
as Father
Seven Keys to Baldpate
as Clerk
Seven Keys to Baldpate
as Clerk