Robert Middleton
Biography
Robert Middleton, born Samuel G. Messer, was an American film and television actor. He was born on May 13, 1911, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and died on June 14, 1977, in Hollywood, California, at the age of 66. Known for his large size, beetle-like brow, and deep, booming voice, Middleton trained for a musical career at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He worked steadily as a radio announcer and actor before appearing on the Broadway stage and in live television. He began appearing in films in 1954 and is also remembered for playing the boss Mr. Marshall on The Jackie Gleason Show, as well as serving as the narrator of the educational film Duck and Cover.
Career overview
Robert Middleton, born Samuel G. Messer, was an American film and television actor. He was born on May 13, 1911, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and died on June 14, 1977, at the age of 66. Known for his large size, beetle-like brow, and a deep, booming voice, Middleton initially trained for a musical career at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Prior to his screen career, he worked steadily as a radio announcer and actor.
His early work included serving as the narrator of the educational film Duck and Cover. After performing on the Broadway stage and in live television, Middleton began appearing in films in 1954. He is also remembered on television for playing the boss Mr. Marshall on The Jackie Gleason Show. Over the course of his career, he accumulated ninety known acting credits across film and television.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
108 titles- Hunter (1977)
- The Lincoln Conspiracy (1977) as Edwin M. Stanton
- Remember When (1974) as Kraus, the butcher
- The Mark of Zorro (1974) as Don Luis Quintero
- Even Angels Eat Beans (1973) as Angelo
- The Harrad Experiment (1973) as Sidney Bower
- Kung Fu (1972) as Marshal Ford
- Fair Play (1972) as Jova Purvis
- Columbo (1971) as Victor Norris
- Alias Smith and Jones (1971)
- McCloud (1970) as Elliott Jason
- The Cheyenne Social Club (1970) as Barkeeper - Great Plains Saloon
- Which Way to the Front? (1970) as Colonico
- Company of Killers (1970) as Owen Brady
- Mannix (1967) as Jake Coryell
- Mission: Impossible (1966) as Clavering
- The Monroes (1966)
- A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966) as Dennis Wilcox
- The Wild Wild West (1965) as Emir El Emid
- Get Smart (1965) as The Whip
- The Big Valley (1965) as Judge Tyrone
- The Big Valley (1965) as Sidney Glover
- The Adventures of Gallegher (1965) as Dutch Mac
- Daniel Boone (1964) as Simon Brasher
- For Those Who Think Young (1964) as Burford Sanford Cronin
- Burke's Law (1963) as Ezekiel Kindworth aka 'Rocky Mountain'
- Burke's Law (1963) as Jed Hawkes
- Burke's Law (1963) as Ragnar Windsor
- Vacation Playhouse (1963) as Homer Ferguson
- Cattle King (1963) as Clay Mathews
- The New Breed (1961) as Stanley Mannis
- The Investigators (1961) as John DeLuca
- The Americans (1961)
- Target: The Corruptors! (1961)
- Gold of the Seven Saints (1961) as Amos Gondora
- Witchcraft: The Doll in Brambles (1961) as Martin Plomb
- Thriller (1960) as Ohrback
- Thriller (1960) as Monsieur de Paris
- The Tall Man (1960) as Paul Mason
- The Great Impostor (1960) as R.C. Brown
- Hell Bent for Leather (1960) as Ambrose
- The Gun of Zangara (1960) as Mayor Anton J. Cermak
- Bonanza (1959) as Sam Bryant
- Bonanza (1959) as C.J. Shasta
- Bonanza (1959) as Grizzly Martingale
- Rawhide (1959) as Josh Green
- Rawhide (1959) as Matt Harger
- Rawhide (1959) as Judge John Jefferson Hogan
- Rawhide (1959) as Duke Aberdeen
- The Untouchables (1959) as Mayer Wartel
- The Untouchables (1959) as Barney Loomis
- The Untouchables (1959) as Mayor Anton J. Cermak
- Adventures in Paradise (1959) as Howard Bailey
- The Rebel (1959) as Arthur Sutro
- The Detectives (1959) as 'Big Jim'
- Wichita Town (1959)
- Career (1959) as Robert Kensington
- Don't Give Up the Ship (1959) as Vice Adm. Philo Tecumseh Bludde
- Bat Masterson (1958) as Big Keel Roberts
- The Law and Jake Wade (1958) as Ortero
- Nightmare at Ground Zero (1958) as Narrator
- Day of the Badman (1958) as Charlie Hayes
- Bitter Heritage (1958) as Luke Crocker
- No Place to Land (1958) as Buck LaVonne
- Perry Mason (1957) as Judge Daniel Redmond
- Wagon Train (1957) as Nate Burkett
- Suspicion (1957) as Banton
- The Walter Winchell File (1957) as Aaron Benjamin
- The Tarnished Angels (1957) as Matt Ord
- The Lonely Man (1957) as Ben Ryerson
- The Death of Manolete (1957) as Perea
- So Lovely, So Deadly (1957) as Eddie Rocco
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Whitney 'Whit' Gaynor
- Telephone Time (1956) as Heinrich Schliemann
- Friendly Persuasion (1956) as Sam Jordan
- Love Me Tender (1956) as Mr. Siringo
- The Proud Ones (1956) as Honest John Barrett
- Red Sundown (1956) as Rufus Henshaw
- Matinee Theater (1955)
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Jake Worth
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Dutch George
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Dorf
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Sam Klinker
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Louis Koster
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Cato Stone
- MGM Parade (1955)
- The Court Jester (1955) as Sir Griswold
- Trial (1955) as A.A. "Fats" Sanders
- The Desperate Hours (1955) as Sam Kobish
- The Big Combo (1955) as Police Capt. Peterson
- Climax! (1954) as Sheriff
- Studio 57 (1954) as Maggio
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Frank Davis
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Dutch Mac
- The Silver Chalice (1954) as Idbash
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Henry Tremaine
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Lt. Toler
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Innkeeper
- Confessions of a Nervous Man (1953) as The Manager
- Something For An Empty Briefcase (1953) as Sloane
- Cavalcade of America (1952) as William Harper
- Duck and Cover (1952) as Narrator
- Tales of Tomorrow (1951) as Dr. John Borrow
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Sheriff Ed Mullen
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951)
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Titus Semple
- Suspense (1949) as Bill West
- Man Against Crime (1949) as Joseph Merko
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Robert Middleton best known for?
Robert Middleton is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Emanuelle in America (1977), Contre-offre (2021), Even Angels Eat Beans (1973), The Harrad Experiment (1973).
When and where was Robert Middleton born?
Robert Middleton was born on May 13, 1911 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. They passed away on June 14, 1977.
How many credits does Robert Middleton have?
Robert Middleton has accumulated over 108 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1949 to 1977.
What is Robert Middleton's background in cinema and television?
Robert Middleton, born Samuel G. Messer, was an American film and television actor. He was born on May 13, 1911, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and died on June 14, 1977, in Hollywood, California, at the age of 66. Known for his large size, beetle-like brow, and deep, booming voice, Middleton trained for a musical career at the ...
Robert Middleton by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hunter (1977) — aged about 66
- Columbo (1971) as Victor Norris — aged about 60
- The Untouchables (1959) as Mayer Wartel — aged about 48
- The Untouchables (1959) as Barney Loomis — aged about 48
- The Untouchables (1959) as Mayor Anton J. Cermak — aged about 48
- Get Smart (1965) as The Whip — aged about 54
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