Cliff Robertson

Clifford Parker Robertson III (September 9, 1923 – September 10, 2011) was an American actor whose career in film and television spanned over six decades. Robertson portrayed a young John F. Kennedy in the 1963 film PT 109, and won the 1968 Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the film Charly. the son of Clifford Parker Robertson Jr. (1902–1968) and his first wife, Audrey Olga Robertson (née Willingham; 1903–1925). (Several obituaries have stated that Robertson was adopted by his parents.) However, the California Birth Index of 1905–1995 states that Clifford P. Robertson was born to a mother whose maiden name was Willingham, in Los Angeles County, California, on September 9, 1923. He was adopted by his maternal grandmother upon his mother's death. His Texas-born father was described as "the idle heir to a tidy sum of ranching money". Robertson once said, "[My father] was a very romantic figure – tall, handsome. He married four or five times, and between marriages he'd pop in to see me. He was a great raconteur, and he was always surrounded by sycophants who let him pick up the tab. During the Great Depression, he tapped the trust for $500,000, and six months later he was back for more."

Robertson's parents divorced when he was one, and his mother died of peritonitis a year later in El Paso, Texas, at the age of 21. He was raised by his maternal grandmother, Mary Eleanor "Eleanora" Willingham (née Sawyer, 1875–1957), in California, and rarely saw his father. He graduated in 1941 from La Jolla High School, where he was known as "The Walking Phoenix".

He served as a third mate in the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II, before attending Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and dropping out to work for a short time as a journalist.

Career Robertson studied at the Actors Studio, becoming a life member. In the early 1950s he worked steadily in television, including a stint as the lead of Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers (1953–1954). He appeared in Broadway in Late Love (1953–1954) and The Wisteria Trees (1955), the latter written by Joshua Logan.

Columbia Robertson made his film debut in Picnic (1955), directed by Logan. Robertson played the role of William Holden's best friend – a part originated on stage by Paul Newman. Newman was under contract to Warner Bros. when the film was being made and was then considered too big a star to reprise his stage performance. Logan's wife recommended Robertson after seeing him in a revival of The Wisteria Trees, and the director remembered him from a Chicago production of Mister Roberts.

The film was a box office success and Robertson was promoted to Joan Crawford's co-star in Autumn Leaves (1956), also at Columbia Pictures, playing her mentally unstable younger lover. This meant he had to pass up the chance to replace Ben Gazzara on Broadway in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. However he did return to Broadway to appear in Orpheus Descending by Tennessee Williams, which only had a short run. The film was not a success at the box office.

More popular was Sunday in New York (1963), where Robertson supported Rod Taylor and Jane Fonda, and The Best Man where he was a ruthless presidential candidate. Filmink said the film "reminded everyone what a good actor he could be."

Charly In 1961, Robertson played the lead role in a United States Steel Hour television production titled "The Two Worlds of Charlie Gordon", based on the novel Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. Frustrated at the progress of his career, Robertson optioned the rights to the teleplay and hired William Goldman to write a script. Before Goldman completed his work, Robertson arranged for Goldman to be hired to Americanize the dialogue for Masquerade (1965), a spy spoof which Robertson starred in, replacing Rex Harrison.

Robertson then made a war film, Up from the Beach (1965) for Fox and guest-starred on that studio's TV show, Batman (1966). He co-starred with Harrison in The Honey Pot (1967) for Joseph L. Mankiewicz then appeared in another war film, The Devil's Brigade (1968) with William Holden.

Robertson disliked Goldman's Algernon script and replaced the writer with Stirling Silliphant for what became Charly (1968). The film was another box office success and Robertson won the 1968 Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of a mentally challenged man. The movie was also a financial success.

Stardom Charly was made by ABC Pictures, which insisted that Robert Aldrich use Robertson in Too Late the Hero (1970), a war film with Michael Caine that was a disappointment at the box office.

In 1969, immediately after winning the Academy Award for Charly, Robertson, a lifelong aviation enthusiast, attempted to produce and direct an aviation film, I Shot Down the Red Baron, I Think, featuring World War I aerial combat, using Lynn Garrison's Irish aviation facility. The comedic storyline portrayed the Red Baron as gay. The aircraft featured garish paint schemes. The film was never completed or released.

Robertson played Cole Younger in The Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid (1972) and a pilot in Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies (1973). He appeared in the 1974 thriller Man on a Swing and the 1975 British drama Out of Season.

Later career

Robertson returned to supporting parts in Three Days of the Condor (1975), which was a big hit. He played the lead in Obsession (1976), a popular thriller from Brian De Palma and Paul Schrader, and in the Canadian drama Shoot (1976). He was also one of several stars in Midway (1976).

Robertson turned to television for Washington: Behind Closed Doors (1977), then had the lead in a thriller, Dominique (1978). He returned to directing for The Pilot (1980), also playing the title role, an alcoholic flyer. Robertson played Hugh Hefner in Star 80 (1983). He attempted to make Charly II in 1980 but it did not happen.

From the 1980s and 1990s onwards, Robertson was predominantly a character actor. He played villains in Class (1983) and Brainstorm (1983). He did have the lead in Shaker Run (1985) in New Zealand, and Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story (1986) on TV.

In addition, he served as the company spokesperson for AT&T from 1983 to 1992 and appeared in various commercials for their long-distance service and consumer telephones.

He was a villain in Malone (1987), did Dead Reckoning (1990) on TV and supported in Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken (1991), Wind (1992), Renaissance Man (1994) and John Carpenter's Escape from L.A. (1996).

Late in his life, Robertson's career had a resurgence. He appeared as Uncle Ben Parker in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man (2002), as well as in the sequels Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007; his last acting role). He commented on his website: "Since Spider-Man 1 and 2, I seem to have a whole new generation of fans. That in itself is a fine residual." He also starred in and wrote 13th Child (2002) and appeared in Riding the Bullet (2004), both horror films.

In 1989, he was a member of the jury at the 39th Berlin International Film Festival.

Television Robertson and Felicia Farr in the Playhouse 90 presentation of "Natchez" Robertson's early television appearances included a starring role in the live space opera Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers (1953–1954), as well as recurring roles on Hallmark Hall of Fame (1952), Alcoa Theatre (1959), and Playhouse 90 (1958, 1960), Outlaws (three episodes). Robertson also appeared as a special guest star on Wagon Train for one episode, portraying an Irish immigrant.

In 1958, Robertson portrayed Joe Clay in the first broadcast of Playhouse 90s Days of Wine and Roses. In 1960, he was cast as Martinus Van Der Brig, a con man, in the episode "End of a Dream" of Riverboat.

Other appearances included: "Wagon Train" (1958), The Twilight Zone episodes "A Hundred Yards Over the Rim" (1961) and "The Dummy" (1962), followed by The Eleventh Hour in the 1963 episode "The Man Who Came Home Late". He guest-starred on such television series as The Greatest Show on Earth, Breaking Point and ABC Stage 67. He had starring roles in episodes of both the 1960s and 1990s versions of The Outer Limits, including "The Galaxy Being", the first episode of the original series. He was awarded an Emmy for his leading role in a 1965 episode, "The Game" of Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre. He appeared as a villain on five episodes of ABC's Batman series as the gunfighter "Shame" (1966 and 1968), the second time with his wife, Dina Merrill, as "Calamity Jan".

In 1976, he portrayed a retired Buzz Aldrin in an adaptation of Aldrin's autobiography Return to Earth. The next year, he portrayed a fictional Director of Central Intelligence (based on Richard Helms) in Washington: Behind Closed Doors, an adaptation of John Ehrlichman's roman à clef The Company, in turn based on the Watergate scandal. In 1987, he portrayed Henry Ford in Ford: The Man and The Machine. From 1983 to 1984, he played Dr. Michael Ranson in Falcon Crest.

Columbia Pictures embezzlement scandal In 1977, Robertson discovered that his signature had been forged on a $10,000 check payable to him, although it was for work he had not performed. He also learned that the forgery had been carried out by then-Columbia Pictures head David Begelman. On reporting it, Robertson inadvertently triggered one of the biggest Hollywood scandals of the 1970s. Begelman was charged with embezzlement, convicted, and later fired from Columbia. Despite pressure to remain quiet, Robertson and his wife Dina Merrill spoke to the press. As a result of coming forward with the scandal, the studio blacklisted him and refused to make another film with him in it until 2002's Spider-Man.

He finally returned to studio film five years later, starring in Brainstorm (1983). The story of the scandal is told in David McClintick's 1982 bestseller, Indecent Exposure.

Personal life In 1957, Robertson married actress Cynthia Stone, the former wife of actor Jack Lemmon. They had a daughter, Stephanie, before divorcing in 1959; he also had a stepson, Chris Lemmon, by this marriage. In 1966, he married actress and Post Cereals heiress Dina Merrill, the former wife of Stanley M. Rumbough Jr.; they had a daughter, Heather (1968–2007), before divorcing.

Robertson was a Democrat and supported Arizona congressman Morris K. Udall during the 1976 Democratic presidential primaries.

Aviation A certified private pilot, one of Robertson's main hobbies was flying and, among other aircraft, he owned several de Havilland Tiger Moths, a Messerschmitt Bf 108, and a genuine World War II–era Mk. IX Supermarine Spitfire (MK923). His first plane flight was in a Lockheed Model 9 Orion. As a 13-year-old, he cleaned hangars for airplane rides. He met Paul Mantz, Art Scholl, and Charles Lindbergh while flying at local California airports. His piloting skills helped him get the part as the Wing Commander in the British war film 633 Squadron. He entered balloon races, including one in 1964 from the mainland to Catalina Island that ended with him being rescued from the Pacific Ocean. He was also a glider pilot and owned a Grob Astir.

In 1969, during the civil war conflict in Nigeria, Robertson helped organize an effort to fly food and medical supplies into the area. He also organized flights of supplies to the ravaged country of Ethiopia when it experienced famine in 1978.

Young Eagles He was a longtime member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), working his way through the ranks in prominence and eventually co-founding the Young Eagles Program with EAA president Tom Poberezny. Robertson chaired the program from its 1992 inception to 1994 (succeeded by former test pilot Chuck Yeager). Along with educating youth about aviation, the initial goal of the Young Eagles was to fly one million children (many of them never having flown before) prior to the 100th Anniversary of Flight celebration on December 17, 2003. That goal was achieved on November 13, 2003. On July 28, 2016, the two millionth Young Eagle was flown by actor Harrison Ford. Within the EAA, he also founded the Cliff Robertson Work Experience in 1993, which offers youths the chance to work for flight and ground school instruction.

Death On September 10, 2011, one day after his 88th birthday, Robertson died of natural causes in Stony Brook, New York. A private funeral was held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in East Hampton, New York, and his remains were interred at the Cedar Lawn Cemetery.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Director(s) Notes1943 We've Never Been Licked Adams John Rawlins World War II propaganda filmUncredited Corvette K-225 Lookout Richard RossonHoward Hawks War filmUncredited 1955 Picnic Alan Benson Joshua Logan Romantic comedy-drama film 1956 Autumn Leaves Burt Hanson Robert Aldrich Psychological drama film1958 The Naked and the Dead Lieutenant Robert Hearn Raoul Walsh War filmBased on the novel of the same name by Norman Mailer The Girl Most Likely Pete Mitchell Leisen Musical comedy filmLast film made by RKO Studios1959 Gidget 'The Big Kahuna' Paul Wendkos Comedy film Made using CinemaScope Battle of the Coral Sea Lieutenant Commander Jeff Conway War film As the Sea Rages Clements Horst Hächler Drama filmAlso known as 1961 All in a Night's Work Warren Kingsley Jr. Joseph Anthony Romantic screwball comedy filmMade in Technicolor Underworld U.S.A. 'Tolly' Devlin Samuel Fuller Neo-noir film The Big Show Josef Everard James B. Clark Drama filmBased on the 1941 novel I'll Never Go There Any More by Jerome Weidman 1962 The Interns Dr. John Paul Otis David Swift Drama film 1963 My Six Loves Reverend Jim Larkin Gower Champion Comedy filmFilmed in Technicolor PT 109 Lt. (j.g.) John F. Kennedy Leslie H. MartinsonLewis Milestone Biographical war filmBased on John F. Kennedy in World War II by Robert J. Donovan Sunday in New York Adam Tyler Peter Tewksbury Romantic comedy filmBased on the 1961 play of the same name by Norman Krasna 1964 The Best Man Joe Cantwell Franklin J. Schaffner Political drama filmBased on the 1960 play of the same name by Gore Vidal The Wandering Wind Self George Bookasta Short film 633 Squadron Wing Commander Roy Grant Walter Grauman War filmBased on the 1956 novel of the same name by Frederick E. Smith 1965 Love Has Many Faces Pete Jordon Alexander Singer Drama film Masquerade David Frazer Basil Dearden Comedy thriller filmBased on the 1954 novel Castle Minerva by Victor Canning Up from the Beach Sergeant Edward Baxter 1967 The Honey Pot William McFly Charly Charly Gordon Ralph Nelson Science fiction drama filmBased on the 1966 novel Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes Academy Award for Best ActorNational Board of Review Award for Best ActorNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture DramaNominated—Laurel Award for Best Male Dramatic Performance 1970 Too Late the Hero Lieutenant Sam Lawson 1972 The Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid Cole Younger 1976 Shoot Rex Harvey Hart Action filmBased on the novel of the same name by Douglas Fairbairn. Midway Commander Carl Jessop Jack Smight War film Obsession Michael Courtland Brian De Palma Psychological thriller film 1977 Fraternity Row Narrator Thomas J. Tobin Drama film 1979 Dominique David Ballard Michael Anderson Psychological horror film The Little Prince Narrator Will Vinton Short animated film 1980 The Pilot Mike Hagan 1991 Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken Dr. Carver Steve Miner Drama film 1992 Wind Morgan Weld Steve Miner Drama filmBased on the 1961 novel A Girl and Five Brave Horses by Sonora Webster Carver 1994 Renaissance Man Colonel James Penny Marshall Comedy film 1995 Pakten Ted Roth Leidulv Risan Comedy crime drama filmAlso known as The Sunset Boys 1996 Escape from L.A. President Adam John Carpenter Post-apocalyptic action film 1998 Melting Pot Jack Durman Tom Musca Drama film 1999 Family Tree Larry Duane Clark Family drama film 2000 Mach 2 Vice President Pike Fred Olen Ray Direct-to-video action disaster thriller film 2001 Falcon Down 'Buzz' Thomas Phillip J. Roth Science fiction film 2002 Spider-Man Ben Parker Sam Raimi Superhero film 13th Child Mr. Shroud Thomas AshleySteven Stockage Direct-to-video horror filmCo-screenwriter 2004 Spider-Man 2 Ben Parker Sam Raimi Superhero filmCameo Riding the Bullet Farmer Mick Garris Horror filmBased on the 2000 novella of the same name by Stephen King 2007 Spider-Man 3 Ben Parker Sam Raimi Superhero filmCameo (final acting role) 2018 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Animated superhero filmArchival audio 2023 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Animated superhero filmArchival footage from 2002 film

Television Year Title Role