Robert J. Wilke

Robert Joseph Wilke (May 18, 1914 – March 28, 1989) was an American film and television actor noted primarily for his roles as villains, mostly in Westerns.

Early years Wilke was a native of Cincinnati. Before going into acting, he had a variety of jobs, including working in a high-dive act at the Chicago World's Fair in 1933–1934.

Career Wilke started as a stuntman in the 1930s and his first appearance on screen was in San Francisco (1936).

Westerns Wilke appeared in many television Westerns, including seven episodes each of NBC's Laramie and CBS's Gunsmoke.

Wilke played a hired gun in The Far Country (1954) and continued to work steadily in films and television over the next 20 years. More Western credits followed in Man of the West (1958) and numerous lesser-known films.

In 1957 he played the role of the Marshall of a town named Ansara in the Wagon Train episode "The Jud Steele Story".

In 1960 Wilke appeared in The Magnificent Seven as the railroad bully, Wallace, who was quickly killed off by James Coburn. He also appeared in Days of Heaven (1978) as the farm foreman.

Wilke guest-starred on many other television Westerns, including Maverick, Tales of Wells Fargo, Have Gun – Will Travel, Bronco, The Westerner, Lawman, Wanted Dead or Alive, Zorro, The Rifleman, and Rango.

Other roles Outside of Westerns, Wilke appeared in From Here to Eternity (1953) and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954). In the former film, Wilke's character tells Maggio he has guard duty, which begins a series of events leading to the plot's climax. In the later film, he was cast as the first mate of the Nautilus. It is Wilke who, in the film, warns Captain Nemo that a giant squid is approaching the ship, and who utters the line "We understand, sir, and we're with you", when Nemo announces his final intentions.

His drama/adventure roles included U.S. Marshal, Peter Gunn, Tarzan, Bourbon Street Beat, 77 Sunset Strip, and The Untouchables. In 1953 Wilke, playing a henchman for an East European counterfeiter, shoved John Hamilton and George Reeves into side-by-side steam cabinets, locked them in, turned up the thermostat and left them to bake in "Perry White's Scoop", an episode of the Adventures of Superman.

Wilke played Deputy Sheriff Connors in the 1963 episode "The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito" on CBS' Perry Mason. He portrayed golf professional Danny Donnigan in a 1962 episode, "Robbie the Caddie", on the ABC sitcom My Three Sons. In 1964 Wilke played Tom Carter, the golf instructor of Lucy Carmichael (Lucille Ball), in The Lucy Show episode "Lucy Takes Up Golf".

Wilke's final film role was Gen. Barnicke in the 1981 comedy Stripes. James Garner also said that Wilke was the best golfer among the showbiz crowd at the Riviera in his book The Garner Files.

In 1966, Wilke was rated the best amateur golfer in Hollywood. In 1960, 1963, and 1964, he won the World Entertainment Championship golf title. Private life He married Laura Elizabeth Conroy in 1946, by whom he had one son. After their divorce, he remarried, to Patricia Kesinger in 1973. Wilke died of lung cancer.

Selected filmography

San Francisco (1936) as Earthquake Survivor (uncredited) King of the Texas Rangers (1936) That Man's Here Again (1937) as Extra in Park (uncredited) San Quentin (1937) as Young Convict in Yard (uncredited) S.O.S. Coast Guard (1937) as Seaman (uncredited) Renfrew of the Royal Mounted (1937) as Mountie at Picnic (uncredited) International Crime (1938) as Bar Patron (uncredited) The Fighting Devil Dogs (1938) as Marine in Shanghai (uncredited) Come On, Rangers (1938) (uncredited) Woman Doctor (1939) as Ambulance Driver (uncredited) Star Reporter (1939) as Reporter (uncredited) Street of Missing Men (1939) as Henchman (uncredited) Man of Conquest (1939) as Texican (uncredited) S.O.S. Tidal Wave (1939) as Man in TV Studio (uncredited) Daredevils of the Red Circle (1939) as G-Man (uncredited) In Old Monterey (1939) as Man on Wagon (uncredited) Jeepers Creepers (1939) as Gangster In Old Missouri (1940) as Hillbilly (uncredited) Grand Ole Opry (1940) as Hillbilly (uncredited) Adventures of Red Ryder (1940) as Henchman (uncredited) Hit Parade of 1941 (1940) (uncredited) Country Fair (1941) Power Dive (1941) as Barfly (uncredited) Sierra Sue (1941) as Carnival Spectator (uncredited) Dick Tracy vs. Crime Inc. (1941) as Cutter Helmsman (uncredited) Spy Smasher (1942, Serial) as Chief Government Agent [Chs. 1–2, 10-11] (uncredited) Bells of Capistrano (1942) as Roustabout (uncredited) The Masked Marvel (1943, Serial) as Rental Garage Thug (uncredited) Overland Mail Robbery (1943) as Shack Guard (uncredited) Pistol Packin' Mama (1943) as Bodyguard (uncredited) California Joe (1943) as Barfly (uncredited) The Fighting Seabees (1944) as Arriving Construction Worker (uncredited) Captain America (1944) as Thug with B-10 [Ch. 4] (uncredited) Beneath Western Skies (1944) as Henchman (uncredited) Hidden Valley Outlaws (1944) as Rancher (uncredited) Rosie the Riveter (1944) as Furniture Mover (uncredited) Cowboy and the Senorita (1944) as Townsman (uncredited) The Tiger Woman (1944) as Hill Heavy 1[Ch. 2] / Road Heavy (uncredited) The Yellow Rose of Texas (1944) as Deputy (uncredited) Marshal of Reno (1944) as Deputy (uncredited) Call of the Rockies (1944) as Deputy Jim (uncredited) Bordertown Trail (1944) as Henchman (uncredited) The San Antonio Kid (1944) as Henchman Haunted Harbor (1944) as 1st Bartender [Ch. 1] (uncredited) Stagecoach to Monterey (1944) as Barfly (uncredited) Cheyenne Wildcat (1944) as Deputy Charlie (uncredited) Code of the Prairie (1944) as Office Henchman (uncredited) Sheriff of Sundown (1944) as Bradley - Henchman Vigilantes of Dodge City (1944) as Henchman Zorro's Black Whip (1944) as Bill Slocum (uncredited) Faces in the Fog (1944) as Photographer (uncredited) Firebrands of Arizona (1944) as 3rd Deputy (uncredited) The Big Bonanza (1944) as Rancher (uncredited) Sheriff of Las Vegas (1944) as Barfly (uncredited) The Topeka Terror (1945) as Lynch-Mob Member Great Stagecoach Robbery (1945) as Stage Guard (uncredited) Sheriff of Cimarron (1945) as Dobie - Henchman Earl Carroll Vanities (1945) as Cab Driver (uncredited) Corpus Christi Bandits (1945) as Steve - Henchman Lone Texas Ranger (1945) as Henchman (uncredited) Santa Fe Saddlemates (1945) as Rawhide Bells of Rosarita (1945) as Deputy (uncredited) The Chicago Kid (1945) as Detective (uncredited) The Man from Oklahoma (1945) as Chauffeur (uncredited) Trail of Kit Carson (1945) as Dave MacRoy Hitchhike to Happiness (1945) as Stage Hand (uncredited) The Purple Monster Strikes (1945) as Dr. Harvey's Assistant (uncredited) Bandits of the Badlands (1945) as Keller - Henchman Sunset in El Dorado (1945) as Curley Roberts - Henchman Rough Riders of Cheyenne (1945) as Smoke - Henchman The Daltons Ride Again (1945) as Posseman (uncredited) The Phantom Rider (1946) as Indian Rebel 1 (uncredited) Roaring Rangers (1946) as Outlaw Leader (uncredited) The Catman of Paris (1946) as The Catman (uncredited) The Wife of Monte Cristo (1946) as Minor Role (uncredited) King of the Forest Rangers (1946, Serial) as Carleton - Forest Ranger [Chs. 1, 4–5, 9] (uncredited) Badman's Territory (1946) as Deputy Marshal (uncredited) Passkey to Danger (1946) as Police Sergeant (uncredited) Traffic in Crime (1946) as Hogan's Driver Rendezvous with Annie (1946) as MP (uncredited) Daughter of Don Q (1946) as Smith (uncredited) Inner Circle (1946) as Cummings - Police Officer White Tie and Tails (1946) as Starter (uncredited) The Crimson Ghost (1946, Serial) as Scott - Armored Car Driver [Ch. 3] (uncredited) Out California Way (1946) as Nate (uncredited) The Pilgrim Lady (1947) as Doorman (uncredited) The Michigan Kid (1947) as Pool Player (uncredited) The Ghost Goes Wild (1947) as Burglar West of Dodge City (1947) as Adams - Henchman (uncredited) Twilight on the Rio Grande (1947) as Henchman (uncredited) Buck Privates Come Home (1947) as GI Buddy (uncredited) Law of the Canyon (1947) as Knife-Throwing Henchman (uncredited) The Vigilantes Return (1947) as Henchman (uncredited) Web of Danger (1947) as Station Wagon Driver (uncredited) Blackmail (1947) as Policeman (uncredited) The Black Widow (1947) as Cabbie / Jailer (uncredited) Last Days of Boot Hill (1947) as Bronc Peters (uncredited) Frontier Outpost (1948) Six-Gun Law (1948) as Larson - Henchman (uncredited) G-Men Never Forget (1948, Serial) as Steele - Phony Detective [Ch. 5] (uncredited) The Wreck of the Hesperus (1948) as Milton (uncredited) West of Sonora (1948) as Brock - Henchman (uncredited) Dangers of the Canadian Mounted (1948) as Cpl. Baxter (uncredited) Carson City Raiders (1948) as Ed Noble River Lady (1948) as Man (uncredited) Daredevils of the Clouds (1948) as Joe A Southern Yankee (1948) as Confederate Soldier Ordering Cease Fire (uncredited) Trail to Laredo (1948) as Duke - Henchman (uncredited) Desperadoes of Dodge City (1948) as Land Agent Runner (uncredited) Sundown in Santa Fe (1948) as Henchman (uncredited) Homicide for Three (1948) as Policeman (uncredited) Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc. (1949, Serial) as Zod - Pursuit Plane Pilot [Chs. 10-11] Ghost of Zorro (1949) as Townsman (uncredited) Death Valley Gunfighter (1949) as Henchman (uncredited) Laramie (1949) as Cronin (uncredited) The Wyoming Bandit (1949) as Sam - Henchman Flaming Fury (1949) as Patrolman (uncredited) The James Brothers of Missouri (1949) as Townsman (uncredited) Post Office Investigator (1949) as Policeman (uncredited) The Traveling Saleswoman (1950) as Loser (uncredited) The Blonde Bandit (1950) as Det. Walker Mule Train (1950) as Bradshaw - Henchman (uncredited) The Kid from Texas (1950) as Henchman (uncredited) Twilight in the Sierras (1950) as Bus Driver (uncredited) Outcast of Black Mesa (1950) as Curt - Henchman Kill the Umpire (1950) as Cactus (uncredited) Beyond the Purple Hills (1950) as Jim Conners - Henchman (uncredited) The Desert Hawk (1950) as Camel Driver (uncredited) Across the Badlands (1950) as Duke Jackson / Keno Jackson Frontier Outpost (1950) as Krag Benson Vengeance Valley (1951) as Cowhand (uncredited) Saddle Legion (1951) as Hooker - Henchman GunPlay (1951) as Henchman Winslow No Questions Asked (1951) as Police Sergeant (uncredited) Best of the Badmen (1951) as Jim Younger Cyclone Fury (1951) as Bunco - Henchman Pistol Harvest (1951) as Andy Baylor Hot Lead (1951) as Stoney Dawson Overland Telegraph (1951) as Bellew - Henchman Indian Uprising (1952) as Taggart Man (uncredited) The Las Vegas Story (1952) as Clayton Road Agent (1952) as Slab Babcock Laramie Mountains (1952) as Henry Mandel (uncredited) Carbine Williams (1952) as Guard on Train (uncredited) High Noon (1952) as Jim Pierce Hellgate (1952) as Sgt. Maj. Kearn Cattle Town (1952) as Keeno Fargo (1952) as Link - Henchman Wyoming Roundup (1952) as Wyatt - Henchman The Maverick (1952) as Massey Cow Country (1953) as Sledge Powder River (1953) as Will Horn Arrowhead (1953) as Sgt. Stone From Here to Eternity (1953) as Sgt. Henderson (uncredited) War Paint (1953) as Trooper Grady The Lone Gun (1954) as Hort Moran Two Guns and a Badge (1954) as Moore - Outlaw 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) as First Mate of the Nautilus Death Valley Days (1955, Two Gun Nan) The Far Country (1955) as Madden Smoke Signal (1955) as 1st Sgt. Daly Strange Lady in Town (1955) as Karg Shotgun (1955) as Bentley Son of Sinbad (1955) as Musa (uncredited) Wichita (1955) as Ben Thompson Tarantula (1955) as Ranch Hand (uncredited) The Lone Ranger (1956) as Cassidy Backlash (1956) as Jeff Welker Raw Edge (1956) as Sile Doty The Rawhide Years (1956) as Neal Canyon River (1956) as Joe Graycoe The Vagabond King (1956) as Officer of the Day (uncredited) Gun the Man Down (1956) as Matt Rankin Cheyenne (1956) 'Mustang Trail' as Jed Begert Written on the Wind (1956) as Dan Willis Hot Summer Night (1957) as Tom Ellis Night Passage (1957) as Concho The Tarnished Angels (1957) as Hank Return to Warbow (1958) as Red Colgate Theatre (1958) S1 E2 "The Last Marshal" Man of the West (1958) as Ponch Never Steal Anything Small (1959) as Lennie Wanted Dead or Alive (1959) S2 E13 "No Trail Back" as Ben Hooker Spartacus (1960) as Guard Captain The Magnificent Seven (1960) as Wallace Blueprint for Robbery (1961) as Capt. Swanson The Long Rope (1961) as Ben Matthews Rawhide (1961) – Sheriff McVey in S3:E25, "Incident of the Running Man" Death Valley Days (1962) 'Susie' as Sergeant Brill Have Gun Will Travel (1963). The Gun Hawk (1963) as Johnny Flanders Shock Treatment (1964) as Technician Mike Newton Fate Is the Hunter (1964) as Stillman Death Valley Days (1965) 'The Journey' as Sergeant Wilks The Hallelujah Trail (1965) as Chief Five Barrels Daniel Boone (1964 TV series) (1965) as Toff - S1/E18 "The Sound of Fear" Morituri (1965) as Cmdr. Kelling (uncredited) Smoky (1966) as Jeff Nicks Tony Rome (1967) as Ralph Turpin The Cheyenne Social Club (1970) as Corey Bannister A Gunfight (1971) as Marshal Tom Cater The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler (1971) as Hugh Fielding The Boy Who Cried Werewolf (1973) as The Sheriff Santee (1973) as Deaks Days of Heaven (1978) as The Farm Foreman The Sweet Creek County War (1979) as Lucas Derring The Great Monkey Rip-Off (1979) as Zaerbo Dallas (1980) 'The Dove Hunt' as Tom Owens Stripes (1981) as Gen. Barnicke (final film role)