Robert Dudley
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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.]
Acting
Movie
Citizen Kane
as Photographer (uncredited)
1941
Movie
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
as Reporter (uncredited)
1939
Movie
The Lady Eve
as Husband on Ship (uncredited)
1941
Movie
Fury
as Store Owner (uncredited)
1936
Movie
The Palm Beach Story
as Wienie King
1942
Movie
Son of Dracula
as Justice of the Peace Jonathan Kirby (uncredited)
1943
Movie
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
as Man (uncredited)
1944
Movie
Stranger on the Third Floor
as Postman (uncredited)
1940
Movie
All That Money Can Buy
as Lem (uncredited)
1941
Movie
It Happened Tomorrow
as Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
1944
Movie
The Prisoner of Shark Island
as Druggist at Trial (uncredited)
1936
Movie
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry
1945
Movie
Lady on a Train
1945
Movie
Sleep, My Love
as Bar Patron at The Maples
1948
Movie
Broken Lullaby
1932
Movie
For Heaven's Sake
as Harold's Secretary (uncredited)
1926
Movie
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
as Robert McDuffy
1947
Movie
Magic Town
as Dickey
1947
Movie
The House of the Seven Gables
as Jury Foreman
1940
Movie
Midnight Mary
as Mannering's Night Watchman (uncredited)
1933
Movie
Casanova Brown
as Justice Of The Peace
1944
Movie
When the Daltons Rode
as Pete Norris - Juror
1940
Movie
Mourning Becomes Electra
as Chemist (uncredited)
1947
Movie
San Antonio
1945