Edward G. Robinson
Biography
Edward G. Robinson was a Romanian-born American actor. He is best known for his roles as a gangster, particularly in the film Little Caesar. Robinson's career experienced a decline during the 1950s, resulting in underemployment. He then turned to minor roles in B movies before returning to the mainstream with a role in The Ten Commandments. Robinson's acting credits include 153 known roles. He was born on December 12, 1893, in Bucarest, Roumanie, and passed away on January 26, 1973, at the age of 79. Robinson's acting career spanned multiple genres, with a notable focus on gangster roles.
Career overview
Edward G. Robinson was a Romanian-born American actor. He began his acting career and gained recognition for his portrayal of a gangster in a notable film, Little Caesar, released in 1931. This role marked a significant point in his career, establishing him as a notable figure in the film industry.
Robinson's acting career spanned several decades, during which he played a wide range of characters. However, his career experienced a decline in the 1950s, particularly during the Red Scare, when he faced the threat of blacklisting. As a result, he took on minor roles in B movies, struggling with underemployment.
Robinson eventually returned to the mainstream with a notable role in Cecil B. DeMille's epic film, The Ten Commandments, released in 1956. He played one of Moses' adversaries, Dathan, in this film. This marked a significant turning point in his career, allowing him to regain his status as a prominent actor.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- Away with Words (2026) as Edward G. Robinson
- Rat Pack (2022) as Self (archive footage)
- Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored (2013) as Self (archive footage)
- 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year (2009) as Self (archive footage)
- Warner at War (2008) as (archive footage)
- Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film (2008) as Self (archive footage)
- You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story (2008) as Self (archive footage)
- Little Caesar: End of Rico, Beginning of the Antihero (2005) as Self (archive footage)
- Checking Out: Grand Hotel (2004) as Self (archive footage)
- Pulp Cinema (2001) as Self (archive footage)
- Bogart: The Untold Story (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- Frank Capra's American Dream (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire (1991) as Self (archive footage)
- Movie Tough Guys (1991) as Self (archive footage)
- Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975) as Self (archive footage)
- Soylent Green (1973) as Sol Roth
- A Look at the World of 'Soylent Green' (1973) as Self
- Neither by Day Nor by Night (1972) as Father
- Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972) as Self (archive footage)
- Mooch Goes to Hollywood (1971)
- Night Gallery (1970) as Abraham Goldman
- The Silent Force (1970)
- Song of Norway (1970) as Krogstad
- The Old Man Who Cried Wolf (1970) as Emile Pulska
- Bracken's World (1969)
- Mackenna's Gold (1969) as Old Adams
- Operation Heartbeat (1969) as Dr. Lee Forestman
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Self
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Self (uncredited)
- The Biggest Bundle of Them All (1968) as Professor Samuels
- It's Your Move (1968) as Sir George McDowell
- Never a Dull Moment (1968) as Leo Joseph Smooth
- Operation San Pietro (1967) as Joe Ventura
- The Blonde from Peking (1967) as CIA Chief Douglas
- Grand Slam (1967) as Prof. James Anders
- Batman (1966) as Edward G. Robinson (uncredited)
- Planet of the Apes Test Reel (1966) as Dr. Zaius
- The Cincinnati Kid (1965) as Lancey Howard
- Born a Man (1965) as Narrator
- The Hollywood Palace (1964) as Self
- Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964) as Big Jim Stevens (uncredited)
- Cheyenne Autumn (1964) as Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz
- Good Neighbor Sam (1964) as Simon Nurdlinger
- The Outrage (1964) as Con Man
- The Prize (1963) as Max Stratman/Walter Stratman
- Sammy Going South (1963) as Cocky Wainwright
- The Lucy Show (1962) as Edward G. Robinson
- My Geisha (1962) as Sam Lewis
- Two Weeks in Another Town (1962) as Maurice Kruger
- Seven Thieves (1960) as Theo Wilkins
- Pepe (1960) as Edward G. Robinson
- The Right Man (1960) as Theodore Roosevelt
- The Detectives (1959) as 'Big Jim' Riva
- NBC Sunday Showcase (1959) as Daniel Webster
- Israel (1959) as Self - Narrator
- A Hole in the Head (1959) as Mario Manetta
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Victor Bers
- The Steve Allen Show (1956) as Self
- The Ten Commandments (1956) as Dathan
- Nightmare (1956) as Rene Bressard
- The Violent Men (1955) as Lee Wilkison
- A Bullet for Joey (1955) as Raoul Leduc
- Tight Spot (1955) as Lloyd Hallett
- Illegal (1955) as Victor Scott
- Hell on Frisco Bay (1955) as Victor Amato
- Climax! (1954) as Josef Vadassy
- Black Tuesday (1954) as Vincent Canelli
- A Star Is Born World Premiere (1954) as Self
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Bert Alquist
- Big Leaguer (1953) as John B 'Hans' Lobert
- Vice Squad (1953) as Capt. 'Barnie' Barnaby
- The Glass Web (1953) as Henry Hayes
- This Is Your Life (1952) as Self
- The Ford Television Theatre (1952) as John Derwent
- The Ford Television Theatre (1952) as Baron
- Actors and Sin (1952) as Maurice Tillayou (segment Actor's Blood)
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Sir Wilfrid Robarts
- My Daughter Joy (1950) as George Constantin
- House of Strangers (1949) as Gino Monetti
- It's a Great Feeling (1949) as Edward G. Robinson (uncredited)
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Key Largo (1948) as Johnny Rocco
- Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1948) as John Triton
- All My Sons (1948) as Joe Keller
- The Red House (1947) as Pete Morgan
- Blow-Ups of 1947 (1947) as Self
- The Stranger (1946) as Federal Agent Wilson
- Okay for Sound (1946)
- Scarlet Street (1945) as Christopher Cross
- Our Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945) as Martinius Jacobson
- Journey Together (1945) as Dean McWilliams
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Presenter
- Double Indemnity (1944) as Barton Keyes
- The Woman in the Window (1944) as Professor Richard Wanley
- Mr. Winkle Goes to War (1944) as Wilbert Winkle
- Tampico (1944) as Capt. Bart Manson
- Flesh and Fantasy (1943) as Marshall Tyler (segment 2)
- Destroyer (1943) as Steven 'Boley' Boleslavski
- Tales of Manhattan (1942) as Larry Browne
- Breakdowns of 1942 (1942) as Self
- Moscow Strikes Back (1942) as Narrator (English version) (voice)
- Larceny, Inc. (1942) as 'Pressure' Maxwell
- The Sea Wolf (1941) as 'Wolf' Larsen
- Breakdowns of 1941 (1941) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Manpower (1941) as Hank McHenry
- Unholy Partners (1941) as Bruce Corey
- Polo with the Stars (1941) as Self - Watching Polo Match
- Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet (1940) as Dr. Paul Ehrlich
- Brother Orchid (1940) as Little John T. 'Johnny' Sarto
- A Dispatch from Reuters (1940) as Paul Julius Reuter
- Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939) as Edward 'Ed' Renard
- From the Ends of the Earth (1939) as Self
- Blackmail (1939) as John R. Ingram
- Breakdowns of 1939 (1939) as Self
- The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938) as Dr. T.S. Clitterhouse
- I Am the Law (1938) as John Lindsay
- A Slight Case of Murder (1938) as Remy Marko
- The Last Gangster (1937) as Joe Krozac
- Kid Galahad (1937) as Nick 'Nicky' Donati
- Thunder in the City (1937) as Dan Armstrong
- A Day at Santa Anita (1937) as Edward G. Robinson (uncredited)
- The First Gangster and the Last Gangster (1937) as Himself
- Bullets or Ballots (1936) as Johnny Blake
- Breakdowns of 1936 (1936) as Self
- Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1) (1936) as Self
- The Whole Town's Talking (1935) as Arthur Ferguson 'Jonesy' Jones / 'Killer' Mannion
- Barbary Coast (1935) as Luis Chamalis
- Dark Hazard (1934) as Jim 'Buck' Turner
- The Man with Two Faces (1934) as Damon Welles / Jules Chautard
- I Loved a Woman (1933) as John Mansfield Hayden
- The Little Giant (1933) as James Francis 'Bugs' / 'Jim' Ahearn
- The Hatchet Man (1932) as Wong Low Get
- Two Seconds (1932) as John Allen
- Tiger Shark (1932) as Mike Mascarenhas
- Silver Dollar (1932) as Yates Martin
- Little Caesar (1931) as Caesar Enrico 'Rico' Bandello aka 'Little Caesar'
- Round About Hollywood (1931) as Self
- The Stolen Jools (1931) as Gangster
- Smart Money (1931) as Nick 'The Barber' Venizelos
- Five Star Final (1931) as Joseph W. Randall
- How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 10: 'Trouble Shots' (1931) as Self - Golfer (uncredited)
- The Night Ride (1930) as Tony Garotta
- The Widow from Chicago (1930) as Dominic
- A Lady to Love (1930) as Tony
- Every Woman's Longing (1930) as Tony
- Outside the Law (1930) as Cobra Collins
- East Is West (1930) as Charlie Yong
- An Intimate Dinner in Celebration of Warner Bros. Silver Jubilee (1930) as Self
- The Hole in the Wall (1929) as The Fox
- The Bright Shawl (1923) as Domingo Escobar
- Arms and the Woman (1916) as Factory Worker