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Robert Armstrong

Acting Born Nov 19, 1890 Died Apr 20, 1973 Saginaw, Michigan, USA 179 credits

Biography

Robert Armstrong was an American film actor born in Saginaw, Michigan, on November 20, 1890, though other records note his birthday as November 19, 1890. He died on April 20, 1973, at the age of 82. Armstrong is best remembered for his role as Carl Denham in the 1933 RKO Pictures film King Kong, in which he delivered the famous exit quote, 'Twas beauty killed the beast. Later that same year, he reprised the role of Carl Denham in the sequel, Son of Kong. During the late 1950s, he also appeared as Sheriff Andy Anderson on Rod Cameron's syndicated western television series, State Trooper. Throughout his career, he accumulated 169 known acting credits.

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Career

Career overview

Robert Armstrong was an American film actor born in Saginaw, Michigan, on November 19, 1890, and he passed away on April 20, 1973. Throughout his career, he amassed 169 known acting credits in film and television. He is best remembered for his role as Carl Denham in the 1933 RKO Pictures version of King Kong, in which he delivered the famous exit quote at the end of the film. Months later, he reprised the role of Carl Denham in the sequel, Son of Kong, which was also released in 1933.

Later in his career, during the late 1950s, Armstrong expanded his work into television. He appeared as Sheriff Andy Anderson on the syndicated western-themed television series State Trooper, which starred Rod Cameron. Known professionally by names including Bob Armstrong and Robert William Armstrong, his career spanned numerous productions across the entertainment industry until his death at the age of eighty-two.

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Known for

Film

For Those Who Think Young

as Norman Armstrong
Film

Highlander

as Pat Royal
Film

Johnny Cool

as Underworld Leader

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

as Charles Faulkner

The Barbara Stanwyck Show

as Insp. Gunnison
Film

New Jack City

as Cal Stone

The Deputy

as Constable Emmanuel Dobbs (uncredited)

Lock-Up

as Sam Ellender

The Alaskans

1959

Lawman

as Lacey Grant

Lawman

as Frank Fenway
Film

Do the Right Thing

as Pop Bateman

Frequent co-stars

Fay Wray 2 shared titles
James Flavin 2 shared titles
Noble Johnson 2 shared titles
Steve Clemente 2 shared titles
Rod Cameron 2 shared titles
Bruce Cabot 1 shared title
Frank Reicher 1 shared title
Victor Wong 1 shared title
Sam Hardy 1 shared title
Roscoe Ates 1 shared title

Career timeline

Titans of Destruction: The Evolution of Giant Monster Movies
The Lost Spider Pit Sequence
For Those Who Think Young
RedigoJohnny Cool
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
RawhideThe DeputyLock-UpThe Alaskans
LawmanLawman77 Sunset StripThe Further Adventures of Ellery QueenMan with a Camera
Perry MasonPerry MasonPerry MasonPerry MasonWagon Train
Dick Powell's Zane Grey TheatreState TrooperBroken ArrowThe Peacemaker
CheyenneAlfred Hitchcock PresentsAlfred Hitchcock PresentsThe 20th Century Fox HourDouble Jeopardy
LassieClimax!Studio 57Studio 57Studio 57
The Pepsi-Cola PlayhouseGeneral Electric TheaterGeneral Electric Theater
This Is Your LifeThe Pace That Thrills
The Red Skelton ShowSchlitz Playhouse of Stars
The First Hundred YearsLux Video TheatreDestination Big HouseCaptain China
Mighty Joe YoungThe Crime Doctor's DiarySons of New MexicoStreets of San FranciscoThe Lucky Stiff
The PalefaceReturn of the Bad Men
ExposedThe Sea of GrassThe FugitiveFall Guy
Gay BladesBlonde AlibiDecoyCriminal CourtG.I. War Brides
Arson SquadBlood on the SunThe Falcon in San FranciscoGangs of the WaterfrontThe Royal Mounted Rides Again
Action in ArabiaMr. Winkle Goes to WarBelle of the YukonThe Navy Way
Around the WorldThe Mad GhoulThe KansanWings Over the PacificAdventures of the Flying Cadets
My Favorite SpyIt Happened in FlatbushBaby Face MorganLet's Get ToughGang Busters
Dive BomberCitadel of CrimeMr. DynamiteSky Raiders
Forgotten GirlsThe Bride Wore CrutchesService with the ColorsSan Francisco DocksBehind the News
The Roaring TwentiesUnmarriedThe Flying IrishmanFlight at MidnightMan of Conquest
There Goes My HeartThe Night Hawk
The Girl Said NoShe Loved a FiremanIt Can't Last ForeverThree LegionnairesNobody's Baby
Without OrdersDangerous WatersThe Ex-Mrs. BradfordPublic Enemy's WifeAll American Chump

Full filmography

  • Titans of Destruction: The Evolution of Giant Monster Movies (2021) as Self - (archive footage)
  • The Lost Spider Pit Sequence (2005) as Carl Denham (archive footage)
  • For Those Who Think Young (1964) as Norman Armstrong
  • Redigo (1963) as Pat Royal
  • Johnny Cool (1963) as Underworld Leader
  • The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Charles Faulkner
  • The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1960) as Insp. Gunnison
  • Rawhide (1959) as Cal Stone
  • The Deputy (1959) as Constable Emmanuel Dobbs (uncredited)
  • Lock-Up (1959) as Sam Ellender
  • The Alaskans (1959)
  • Lawman (1958) as Lacey Grant
  • Lawman (1958) as Frank Fenway
  • 77 Sunset Strip (1958) as Pop Bateman
  • The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen (1958) as Police chief
  • Man with a Camera (1958) as Marty Delgado
  • Girl with an Itch (1958) as Ben Cooper
  • Perry Mason (1957) as Walter Haskell
  • Perry Mason (1957) as Capt. Bancroft
  • Perry Mason (1957) as Jimmy West
  • Perry Mason (1957) as Phil Jenks
  • Wagon Train (1957) as Roy Daniels
  • Have Gun, Will Travel (1957) as Sidney Carter
  • Sugarfoot (1957) as Big Bill Carmody
  • Trackdown (1957) as Sheriff Croft
  • 26 Men (1957)
  • Meet McGraw (1957) as Sheriff Andy Plummer
  • The Crooked Circle (1957) as Al Taylor
  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Sheriff Dan Walker
  • State Trooper (1956) as Andy Anderson
  • Broken Arrow (1956) as Inspector Higgins
  • The Peacemaker (1956) as Sheriff Ben Seale
  • Cheyenne (1955) as Marshall Len Merrick
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Saloonkeeper
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Doc Buckles
  • The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955) as Pop
  • Double Jeopardy (1955) as Sam Baggott
  • Las Vegas Shakedown (1955) as Doc
  • General Electric Theater: Into the Night (1955) as Walt Bevans
  • Gang Busters (1955) as Det. Tim Nolan
  • Lassie (1954) as Oliver
  • Climax! (1954) as Barney Farrell
  • Studio 57 (1954) as Pvt. Jeb Watkins
  • Studio 57 (1954) as Dowd
  • Studio 57 (1954) as Woody Woodruff
  • Studio 57 (1954) as Grandpa Soames
  • Studio 57 (1954) as Prescott
  • Public Defender (1954) as Father Dunn
  • The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (1953) as Gus Brennar
  • General Electric Theater (1953) as Walt Bevans
  • General Electric Theater (1953) as Kennedy
  • This Is Your Life (1952) as Self
  • The Pace That Thrills (1952) as J.C. Barton
  • The Red Skelton Show (1951) as Lt. Flanagan
  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Jay Calliston
  • The First Hundred Years (1950)
  • Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Dr. Hoffman
  • Destination Big House (1950) as Ed Somers
  • Captain China (1950) as Keegan
  • Mighty Joe Young (1949) as Max O'Hara
  • The Crime Doctor's Diary (1949) as George 'Goldie' Harrigan
  • Sons of New Mexico (1949) as Pat Feeney
  • Streets of San Francisco (1949) as Willard Logan
  • The Lucky Stiff (1949) as Insp. Von Flanagan
  • The Paleface (1948) as Terris
  • Return of the Bad Men (1948) as Wild Bill Doolin
  • Exposed (1947) as Insp. Prentice
  • The Sea of Grass (1947) as Floyd McCurtin
  • The Fugitive (1947) as Police sergeant
  • Fall Guy (1947) as Mac McLaine
  • Gay Blades (1946) as McManus
  • Blonde Alibi (1946) as Williams
  • Decoy (1946) as Frank Olins
  • Criminal Court (1946) as Vic Wright
  • G.I. War Brides (1946) as Dawson
  • Arson Squad (1945) as Fire Capt. Joe Dugan
  • Blood on the Sun (1945) as Col Hideki Tojo
  • The Falcon in San Francisco (1945) as Duke Monet / De Forrest Marshall
  • Gangs of the Waterfront (1945) as Peter Winkley / John 'Dutch' Malone
  • The Royal Mounted Rides Again (1945) as Jonathan Price
  • Action in Arabia (1944) as Matthew Reed
  • Mr. Winkle Goes to War (1944) as Joe Tinker
  • Belle of the Yukon (1944) as George
  • The Navy Way (1944) as CPO Harper
  • Around the World (1943) as General
  • The Mad Ghoul (1943) as 'Scoop' McClure
  • The Kansan (1943) as Malachy
  • Wings Over the Pacific (1943) as Pieter Van Bronk
  • Adventures of the Flying Cadets (1943) as Arthur Galt
  • My Favorite Spy (1942) as Harry Robinson
  • It Happened in Flatbush (1942) as Danny Mitchell
  • Baby Face Morgan (1942) as 'Doc' Rogers
  • Let's Get Tough (1942) as Pop Stevens
  • Gang Busters (1942) as Det. Tim Nolan
  • Dive Bomber (1941) as Art Lyons
  • Citadel of Crime (1941) as Cal Fullerton
  • Mr. Dynamite (1941) as Gunman
  • Sky Raiders (1941) as Lieutenant Ed Carey
  • Forgotten Girls (1940) as Grover Mullins
  • The Bride Wore Crutches (1940) as Pete
  • Service with the Colors (1940) as Sergeant Clicker
  • San Francisco Docks (1940) as Father Cameron
  • Behind the News (1940) as Vic Archer
  • Framed (1940) as Skippy
  • Enemy Agent (1940) as Gordon
  • Meet the Fleet (1940) as CPO Bill Jennings
  • The Roaring Twenties (1939) as Hatted Passerby Before Nightclub (uncredited)
  • Unmarried (1939) as Pins Streaver
  • The Flying Irishman (1939) as Joe Alden
  • Flight at Midnight (1939) as Jim Brennan
  • Man of Conquest (1939) as Jim Bowie
  • Winter Carnival (1939) as Tiger Reynolds
  • Call a Messenger (1939) as Kirk Graham
  • There Goes My Heart (1938) as Detective O'Brien
  • The Night Hawk (1938) as Charlie McCormick
  • The Girl Said No (1937) as Jimmie Allen
  • She Loved a Fireman (1937) as Smokey Shannon
  • It Can't Last Forever (1937) as Al Tinker
  • Three Legionnaires (1937) as Sgt. Chuck Connors
  • Nobody's Baby (1937) as Scoops Hanford
  • Without Orders (1936) as Wad. Madison
  • Dangerous Waters (1936) as 'Dusty' Johnson
  • The Ex-Mrs. Bradford (1936) as Nick Martel, Bookie
  • Public Enemy's Wife (1936) as Gene Ferguson
  • All American Chump (1936) as Bill Hogan
  • 'G' Men (1935) as Jeff McCord
  • Gigolette (1935) as Chuck Ahearn
  • Remember Last Night? (1935) as Fred Flannagan
  • Little Big Shot (1935) as Steve Craig
  • Things You Never See on the Screen (1935) as Self
  • Sweet Music (1935) as Dopey Malone
  • The Mystery Man (1935) as Larry Doyle
  • Pirate Party on Catalina Isle (1935) as Performer
  • She Made Her Bed (1934) as 'Duke' Gordon
  • Flirting with Danger (1934) as Bob Owens
  • The Hell Cat (1934) as Dan Collins
  • Search for Beauty (1934) as Larry Williams
  • Kansas City Princess (1934) as Dynamite 'Dynie' Carson
  • Palooka (1934) as Pete Palooka
  • Manhattan Love Song (1934) as Tom Williams
  • King Kong (1933) as Carl Denham
  • The Son of Kong (1933) as Carl Denham
  • Fast Workers (1933) as Bucker Reilly
  • Blind Adventure (1933) as Richard Bruce
  • The Billion Dollar Scandal (1933) as Frank "Fingers" Partos
  • I Love That Man (1933) as Driller
  • Above the Clouds (1933) as Scoop Adams
  • The Most Dangerous Game (1932) as Martin Trowbridge
  • The Penguin Pool Murder (1932) as Barry Costello
  • The Lost Squadron (1932) as Lt. 'Woody' Curwood
  • Radio Patrol (1932) as Bill Kennedy
  • Hold 'Em Jail (1932) as Sports Announcer Inmate
  • Is My Face Red? (1932) as Ed Maloney
  • Panama Flo (1932) as Babe Dillon
  • Ex-Bad Boy (1931) as Chester Binney
  • Iron Man (1931) as George Regan
  • Suicide Fleet (1931) as Dutch
  • The Tip-Off (1931) as Kayo McClure
  • Danger Lights (1931) as Larry Doyle
  • Big Money (1930) as Ace
  • Paid (1930) as Joe Garson
  • Be Yourself! (1930) as Jerry Moore
  • Dumb-bells in Ermine (1930) as Jerry Malone
  • Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1 (1930) as Self
  • Oh, Yeah! (1929) as Dude Cowan
  • The Racketeer (1929) as Mahlon Keane
  • The Woman from Hell (1929) as Alf
  • Big News (1929) as Steve Banks
  • The Leatherneck (1929) as Joseph Hanlon
  • The Cop (1928) as Scarface Marcas
  • Celebrity (1928) as Kid Reagan
  • A Girl in Every Port (1928) as Bill / Salami
  • The Leopard Lady (1928) as Chris
  • Square Crooks (1928) as Eddie Ellison
  • The Shady Lady (1928) as Blake
  • Show Folks (1928) as Owens - Promoter
  • The Baby Cyclone (1928) as Gene
  • Ned McCobb's Daughter (1928) as Babe Callahan
  • The Main Event (1927) as Red Lucas