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Robert Rockwell

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
78

Gender
Male

Birthday
October 15, 1920 (105 years old)

Place of Birth
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Robert Rockwell

Biography

Robert Rockwell was an American stage, film, radio and television actor. He is best known for playing the handsome, but awkward biology teacher Philip Boynton in the radio and television sitcom Our Miss Brooks opposite Eve Arden.

A native of Lake Bluff, Illinois, Rockwell studied at the Pasadena Playhouse, from which he obtained a master's degree. During World War II he enlisted in the US Navy for four years serving in Washington D.C. Dramatic roles often eluded him, however, after beginning his career as a contract player for Republic Studios he appeared, over his almost 50-year acting career, in more than 350 television episodes and, on stage, opposite José Ferrer in the 1946 Broadway production of Cyrano de Bergerac, and with Ginger Rogers during the 1960s in a San Diego production of Whitfield Cook's play A More Perfect Union. He appeared in the first Superman television show episode as Clark Kent's father, Jor-El in 1952. He appeared in a 1959 Perry Mason episode "The case of the Deadly Toy" as love interest to the defendant Claire Allison as Dick Benedict. He starred in the 1961 Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Misguided Missile" as an Air Force officer court-martialled on a murder charge. He later starred in the 1962 Perry Mason episodes "The Case of the Lurid Letter" as Everett Rixby, a high school principal, and the murderer Cole B. Troy in "The Case of the Shapely Shadow". He also appeared as Ed Purvis in the 1965 episode Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Candy Queen".

Rockwell starred in his own ABC western-themed television series, The Man from Blackhawk in the 1959-1960 season. Rockwell was cast as the Blackhawk Insurance Company's key investigator, Sam Logan, who is assigned to weed out fraud in the payment of claims. He also played Sam Thompson in Thompson's Ghost, Tom Bennett in The Bill Cosby Show[4]:106 and Officer Russo in Adam-12.

In 1967 he played a littering tourist in the Lassie episode "Lassie's Litter Bit", an iconic episode which earned a trip for Lassie to the White House to shake hands with then First Lady "Ladybird" Johnson who had used the famous collie in her Keep America Beautiful Campaign.

Rockwell was a founding member of the California Artists Radio Theatre. He played standard leads in a couple of anti-Communist-era features, including Republic's The Red Menace, in which he is cast as a returning veteran of World War II, who is duped by communists.

Later in his career, he appeared on episodes of Petticoat Junction, Growing Pains, and Beverly Hills, 90210. His appearances in commercials and voiceovers totaled more than 200, most notably as the armchair grandfather treating his grandson to a piece of candy in the 1995 version of the Werthers Original candy spot.

Known For

Acting

1995Perfect Alibias
1992The Golden Palaceas Mr. Cochran
1991Hell Hath No Furyas Mr. Stewart
1990Beverly Hills, 90210as Bill Beevis
1987Destination: Americaas
1985Growing Painsas Wally Overmier
1984Hunteras Ralph Flagg
1984E/Ras John Harrison
1983Hardcastle and McCormickas
1983The Kid with the 200 I.Q.as Speaker
1982Newhartas
1981Falcon Crestas Giles Taylor
1981Golden Gateas
1981Dynastyas
1979Knots Landingas Doctor
1979Bensonas
1978Diff'rent Strokesas
1978Diff'rent Strokesas Tim Bishop
1978Diff'rent Strokesas Tom Bishop
1978Dallasas Mitchell
1977Eight Is Enoughas
1976Charlie's Angelsas Harrison
1972The Waltonsas
1969The Bill Cosby Showas Tom Bennett
1969Lassie: The Adventures of Neekaas Dean Chalmers (archive footage)
1968Lassies Abenteuer in Alaskaas Dean Chalmers
1968Here's Lucyas Jack Scott
1968Sol Madridas Chief Danvers
1966Summer Funas
1965Green Acresas
1965A Letter to Nancyas Pastor
1964Espionage Target: Youas Agent (uncredited)
1963Petticoat Junctionas
1962The Lucy Showas Tom Bennett
1961Bus Stopas
1960The Roaring 20'sas
1960Surfside 6as
1959The Man from Blackhawkas
1959The Man from Blackhawkas Sam Logan
1958Westinghouse Desilu Playhouseas
1958Yancy Derringeras Phillip Hampton
1958Broncoas
1958Turn the Other Cheekas Ben Hanson
1957Maverickas
1957Perry Masonas Cole B. Troy
1957Perry Masonas Dick Benedict
1957Perry Masonas Ed Purvis
1957Perry Masonas Everett Rixby
1957Perry Masonas Maj. Jerry Reynolds
1956Our Miss Brooksas Phillip 'Phil' Boynton
1955Navy Logas
1955Gunsmokeas Mr. Philips
1955The Millionaireas Dolph Randolph
1955The Millionaireas Prof. Amberson Adams
1954Lassieas
1953Letter to Lorettaas Jeb Stewart
1953The War of the Worldsas Forest Ranger at Crash Site (uncredited)
1952Our Miss Brooksas Philip Boynton
1952Cavalcade of Americaas
1952Just for Youas John Ransome
1952Adventures of Supermanas Jor-El (uncredited)
1951Racket Squadas
1951The Prince Who Was a Thiefas (uncredited)
1951The Frogmenas Lt. Bill Doyle
1950Prisoners in Petticoatsas Mark Hampton
1950Lonely Heart Banditsas Police Lt. Carroll
1950Trial Without Juryas Police Lt. Bill Peters
1950Destination Big Houseas Dr. Walter Phillips
1950Women from Headquartersas Gates
1950Federal Agent at Largeas Dr. Ross Carrington
1950Belle of Old Mexicoas Kip Armitage III
1950Unmaskedas Detective Lt. James 'Jim' Webster
1949The Blonde Banditas Dist. Atty. Devron
1949Alias the Champas Ron Peterson
1949The Lone Rangeras Randy Tyler
1949The Red Menaceas Bill Jones
1948You Gotta Stay Happyas Eddie
1948The Ed Sullivan Showas Self

Production