Jason Robards Sr.
Acting Born Dec 30, 1892 Died Apr 4, 1963 Hillsdale, Michigan, USA 188 credits
Biography
Jason Robards Sr. was an American stage and film actor born on December 30, 1892, in Hillsdale, Michigan. He trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Art and began his screen career as a leading man before moving to character parts and occasional bit roles. Over his career he accumulated more than 180 screen credits and was consistently billed simply as Jason Robards. Although his son later achieved greater fame, the elder Robards continued to work until his death on April 4, 1963, at the age of 70. In retrospect he is identified as Jason Robards Sr., and his family acting legacy includes his son and grandson, Jason Robards III.
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Career overview
Jason Robards Sr. was born on December 30 1892 in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States. He pursued formal training at the American Academy of Dramatic Art before embarking on a career that spanned both the stage and the screen. Recognized primarily as a stage actor, Robards also appeared in a substantial number of films, initially cast in leading‑man parts and later transitioning to character roles and occasional bit parts. Throughout his professional life he was consistently billed simply as Jason Robards; the designation “Sr.” was applied only retrospectively after his son achieved fame.
Over the course of his career Robards accumulated a sizable body of work, with records indicating 186 credited appearances in film and television. He was also known by the alternate name Jason Nels. His career continued until his death on April 4 1963 at the age of 70. At the time of his passing he had lived to see his son, also named Jason Robards, begin to establish a notable acting career, and his grandson, Jason Robards III, continue the family’s involvement in the performing arts.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
AcapulcoWild in the Country
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
The Notorious Mr. Monks
Leave It to Beaver
General Electric TheaterGeneral Electric TheaterGeneral Electric Theater
The Second WomanWestern Pacific Agent
ImpactPost Office InvestigatorThe ThreatRimfireMassacre River
Shed No TearsMr. Blandings Builds His Dream HouseReturn of the Bad MenSon of God’s CountryIf You Knew Susie
Riff-RaffDick Tracy Meets GruesomeBorn to KillDick Tracy's DilemmaThe Farmer's Daughter
BedlamDick Tracy vs. CueballDeadline at DawnThe Bamboo BlondeStep by Step
Dick TracyJohnny AngelThe Falcon in San FranciscoA Game of DeathIsle of the Dead
Bermuda MysteryMademoiselle FifiMusic in Manhattan
The Kansan
Silver Queen
San Antonio Rose
A Volta do Besouro VerdeThe Howards of VirginiaI Love You AgainThe Fatal HourGangs of Chicago
JuarezRadio HamsI Stole a MillionDanger FlightZorro's Fighting Legion
The Rage of ParisWoman Against WomanFlight to FameCipher BureauThe Nurse from Brooklyn
Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938The FireflyTorture MoneyClipped WingsSweetheart of the Navy
San FranciscoRobin Hood of El DoradoLaughing at TroubleThe Luckiest Girl in the World
The Last Days of PompeiiBreak of HeartsLadies Crave ExcitementI Live My LifeVagabond Lady
Cockeyed CavaliersBroadway BillThe Woman CondemnedThe President VanishesAll of Me
Employees' EntranceOnly YesterdayThe Devil's MateDance Hall HostessDamaged Lives
Union DepotThe ConquerorsDocks of San FranciscoSlightly MarriedA Strange Adventure
Salvation NellCaught PlasteredEx-Bad BoyCharlie Chan Carries OnSubway Express
Peacock AlleySistersAbraham LincolnLightnin'Crazy That Way
The GamblersSome Mother's BoyTrial MarriageParisThe Flying Marine
On TrialThe Death Ship
White FlannelsCasey JonesPolly of the MoviesTracked by the PoliceWild Geese
The Third DegreeFootloose WidowsThe Cohens and Kellys
Full Filmography
188 titles- Acapulco (1961) as Max
- Wild in the Country (1961) as Judge Tom Parker (uncredited)
- The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1960) as Rupert Willis
- The Notorious Mr. Monks (1958) as Judge (uncredited)
- Leave It to Beaver (1957)
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Sam Brady
- General Electric Theater (1953) as L.P. Kerner
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Judge
- The Second Woman (1950) as Stacy Rogers
- Western Pacific Agent (1950) as Train Passenger (uncredited)
- Impact (1949) as Judge
- Post Office Investigator (1949) as Henry Hand
- The Threat (1949) as Police Fingerprint Technician (uncredited)
- Rimfire (1949) as Elkins (Banker)
- Massacre River (1949) as Lawyer Johnstone (uncredited)
- Riders of the Whistling Pines (1949) as Charles Carter (uncredited)
- Horsemen of the Sierras (1949) as Phineas Grant
- Alaska Patrol (1949) as Dr. Loring
- Dynamite (1949) as Hook (Quarry Superintendent) (uncredited)
- Masked Raiders (1949) as Captain of Texas Rangers (uncredited)
- South of Death Valley (1949) as Major Porter Mullen (uncredited)
- Feudin' Rhythm (1949) as Mr. Rushman (uncredited)
- Shed No Tears (1948) as Homicide Inspector (Uncredited)
- Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948) as John Retch
- Return of the Bad Men (1948) as Judge Harper
- Son of God’s Country (1948) as John Thornton
- If You Knew Susie (1948) as Ogleby (uncredited)
- Race Street (1948) as Apartment Desk Clerk (uncredited)
- Fighting Father Dunne (1948) as J.J. Sonin
- Smoky Mountain Melody (1948) as Josh Corby
- Western Heritage (1948) as Judge Winston
- Guns of Hate (1948) as Ben Jason
- Riff-Raff (1947) as Mr. Domingues
- Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947) as Bank Officer (uncredited)
- Born to Kill (1947) as Conductor (uncredited)
- Dick Tracy's Dilemma (1947) as Hawks (uncredited)
- The Farmer's Daughter (1947) as Night Editor (uncredited)
- Banjo (1947) as Conductor Matthews (uncredited)
- Trail Street (1947) as Jason
- The Judge Steps Out (1947) as Police Officer Maloney (uncredited)
- Code of the West (1947) as Morley (uncredited)
- Desperate (1947) as Ferrari
- A Likely Story (1947) as Cop (uncredited)
- Thunder Mountain (1947) as Jim Gardner
- Do or Diet (1947) as Boss
- Seven Keys to Baldpate (1947) as Hayden
- Wild Horse Mesa (1947) as Hod Slack
- Follow That Music (1947)
- Under the Tonto Rim (1947) as Captain McLean
- Bedlam (1946) as Oliver Todd
- Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946) as Captain (uncredited)
- Deadline at Dawn (1946) as Policeman with Liquor Bottle (uncredited)
- The Bamboo Blonde (1946) as Colonel Graham (uncredited)
- Step by Step (1946) as Bruckner
- I'll Take Milk (1946)
- Badman's Territory (1946) as Alert Coffeyville Citizen (uncredited)
- Criminal Court (1946) as Al Marsh (uncredited)
- Ding Dong Williams (1946) as Director Kenmore
- Traffic with the Devil (1946) as Irate Motorist (uncredited)
- The Falcon's Adventure (1946) as Lieutenant Evans
- The Falcon's Alibi (1946) as Harvey Beaumont
- Vacation in Reno (1946) as Sheriff Johnson
- Twin Husbands (1946) as Dorothy's Attorney
- Dick Tracy (1945) as Motorist (uncredited)
- Johnny Angel (1945) as Officer (uncredited)
- The Falcon in San Francisco (1945) as Loomis, Butler (uncredited)
- A Game of Death (1945) as Captain
- Isle of the Dead (1945) as Albrecht
- Zombies on Broadway (1945) as Headwaiter (uncredited)
- Man Alive (1945) as Henry Fletcher
- Betrayal from the East (1945) as Charlie Hildebrand
- Wanderer of the Wasteland (1945) as Crooked Dealer
- What, No Cigarettes (1945) as Policeman
- It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog (1945)
- Bermuda Mystery (1944) as Mark Dunham
- Mademoiselle Fifi (1944) as A Wholesaler in Wine
- Music in Manhattan (1944) as Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
- The Kansan (1943) as Bank Teller
- Silver Queen (1942) as Bank Teller (uncredited)
- San Antonio Rose (1941) as Man at Radio Station
- A Volta do Besouro Verde (1940) as Foley's Bodyguard
- The Howards of Virginia (1940) as Backwoodsman (uncredited)
- I Love You Again (1940) as Worker with Hendrickson Account (uncredited)
- The Fatal Hour (1940) as Griswold
- Gangs of Chicago (1940)
- Half a Sinner (1940) as Country Club Garage Man
- Juarez (1939) as (uncredited)
- Radio Hams (1939) as Pilot in distress
- I Stole a Million (1939) as Bank Teller (uncredited)
- Danger Flight (1939) as Paul Smith
- Zorro's Fighting Legion (1939) as Cantina Proprietor
- Range War (1939) as Rancher
- Sky Patrol (1939) as Paul Smith - Three Points Airfield Owner
- Mystery Plane (1939) as Paul Smith
- Stunt Pilot (1939) as Paul Smith
- The Long Shot (1939) as Doctor
- Scouts to the Rescue (1939) as Doc
- The Mad Empress (1939) as President Benito Juarez
- The Rage of Paris (1938) as Department Head (uncredited)
- Woman Against Woman (1938) as Mr. Roamer
- Flight to Fame (1938) as Muller
- Cipher Bureau (1938) as Ellsworth
- The Nurse from Brooklyn (1938) as Surgeon
- Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938 (1937) as Reporter
- The Firefly (1937) as Civilian Spanish Patriot (uncredited)
- Torture Money (1937) as Alex Carmathy (uncredited)
- Clipped Wings (1937) as Raoul McGuire
- Sweetheart of the Navy (1937) as Bumper
- San Francisco (1936) as Father (uncredited)
- Robin Hood of El Dorado (1936) as Pancho
- Laughing at Trouble (1936) as Clerk of Court
- The Luckiest Girl in the World (1936)
- The Last Days of Pompeii (1935) as Tax Gatherer (uncredited)
- Break of Hearts (1935) as Ticket-Seller (uncredited)
- Ladies Crave Excitement (1935) as Nick
- I Live My Life (1935) as Church (Uncredited)
- Vagabond Lady (1935) as John’s Best Man (uncredited)
- The Fighting Marines (1935) as Kota
- The Miracle Rider (1935) as Carlton
- Cockeyed Cavaliers (1934) as Tavern Singer
- Broadway Bill (1934) as Arthur Winslow
- The Woman Condemned (1934) as Jim Wallace
- The President Vanishes (1934) as Kilbourne
- All of Me (1934) as Man in Speakeasy (uncredited)
- Crimson Romance (1934) as Pierre
- The Super Snooper (1934)
- Woman Unafraid (1934) as Big Bill Lewis
- Burn 'Em Up Barnes (1934) as John Drummond
- Take the Stand (1934) as Joe Reynolds
- Public Stenographer (1934) as Fred 'Freddie' White
- Employees' Entrance (1933) as Commercial Artist (uncredited)
- Only Yesterday (1933) as Investor (Uncredited)
- The Devil's Mate (1933) as Clinton
- Dance Hall Hostess (1933) as Jerry Raymond
- Damaged Lives (1933) as Dr. Bill Hall
- Ship of Wanted Men (1933) as John Craig
- The Way to Love (1933) as Guide
- Corruption (1933) as Police Commissioner
- Carnival Lady (1933) as Jim Ryan
- Union Depot (1932) as Station Agent (uncredited)
- The Conquerors (1932) as Lane
- Docks of San Francisco (1932) as John Banning
- Slightly Married (1932) as Jack Haines
- A Strange Adventure (1932) as Dr. Bailey
- The Pride of the Legion (1932) as Moran
- Unholy Love (1932) as Simmington
- White Eagle (1932) as Dave Rand
- Klondike (1932) as Jim Armstrong
- Discarded Lovers (1932) as Rex Forsythe
- Salvation Nell (1931) as Major Williams
- Caught Plastered (1931) as Harry Waters
- Ex-Bad Boy (1931) as Roger Shields
- Charlie Chan Carries On (1931) as Walter Honeywood
- Subway Express (1931) as Paul Bordon
- Trapped (1931) as Detective Lt. Jack Reed
- The Law of the Tong (1931) as Charlie Wong
- Peacock Alley (1930) as Jim Bradbury
- Sisters (1930) as John Shannon
- Abraham Lincoln (1930) as Herndon
- Lightnin' (1930) as Raymond Thomas
- Crazy That Way (1930) as Frank Oakes
- The Jazz Cinderella (1930) as Herbert Carter
- Trifles (1930) as George Henderson
- The Gamblers (1929) as Carvel Emerson
- Some Mother's Boy (1929) as The Boy
- Trial Marriage (1929) as Dr. Thorvald Ware
- Paris (1929) as Andrew Sabbot
- The Flying Marine (1929) as Mitch Moran
- The Isle of Lost Ships (1929) as Frank Howard
- On Trial (1928) as Defense Attorney
- The Death Ship (1928) as Tom - The First Mate
- White Flannels (1927) as Frank Politz
- Casey Jones (1927) as Casey Jones Jr
- Polly of the Movies (1927) as Angus Whitcomb
- Tracked by the Police (1927) as Bob Owen
- Wild Geese (1927) as Mark Jordan
- Jaws of Steel (1927) as John Warren
- The Heart of Maryland (1927) as Maj. Alan Kendrick
- Hills of Kentucky (1927) as Steve Harley
- Irish Hearts (1927) as Rory
- Streets of Shanghai (1927) as Eugene Fong
- The Third Degree (1926) as Howard Jeffries Jr.
- Footloose Widows (1926) as J.A. "Jerry" Smith
- The Cohens and Kellys (1926) as Tim Kelly
- Stella Maris (1925) as Walter Herold
- The Gilded Lily (1921) as Frank Thompson
- The Land of Hope (1921) as Sascha Rabinoff
- Let's Go Stepping
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Jason Robards Sr. best known for?
Jason Robards Sr. is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Wild in the Country (1961), The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1960), Leave It to Beaver (1957), Sleuth (2007).
When and where was Jason Robards Sr. born?
Jason Robards Sr. was born on December 30, 1892 in Hillsdale, Michigan, USA. They passed away on April 4, 1963.
How many credits does Jason Robards Sr. have?
Jason Robards Sr. has accumulated over 188 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1921 to 1961.
What is Jason Robards Sr.'s background in cinema and television?
Jason Robards Sr. was an American stage and film actor born on December 30, 1892, in Hillsdale, Michigan. He trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Art and began his screen career as a leading man before moving to character parts and occasional bit roles. Over his career he accumulated more than 180 screen credits...
Jason Robards Sr. by the numbers
188credits
182films
6TV series
1921–1961active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Leave It to Beaver (1957) — aged about 64
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Sam Brady — aged about 60
- General Electric Theater (1953) as L.P. Kerner — aged about 60
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Judge — aged about 60
- The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1960) as Rupert Willis — aged about 67
- Wild in the Country (1961) as Judge Tom Parker (uncredited) — aged about 68
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