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Robert Rockwell
Actor

Robert Rockwell

15 Oct 1920Born
25 Jan 2003Died
82Age at death
70Credits

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.

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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

Filmography

  1. 1995Perfect AlibiFilm
  2. 1992The Golden PalaceSeries: Mr. Cochran (1 episode)
  3. 1991Hell Hath No FuryFilm: Mr. Stewart
  4. 1990Beverly Hills, 90210Series: Bill Beevis (1 episode)
  5. 1987Destination: AmericaFilm
  6. 1985Growing PainsSeries: Wally Overmier (8 episodes)
  7. 1984HunterSeries: Ralph Flagg (1 episode)
  8. 1984E/RSeries: John Harrison (1 episode)
  9. 1983Hardcastle and McCormickSeries (1 episode)
  10. 1983The Kid with the 200 I.Q.Film: Speaker
  11. 1982NewhartSeries (2 episodes)
  12. 1981Falcon CrestSeries: Giles Taylor (1 episode)
  13. 1981Golden GateFilm
  14. 1981DynastySeries (1 episode)
  15. 1979Knots LandingSeries: Doctor (1 episode)
  16. 1979BensonSeries (1 episode)
  17. 1978Diff'rent StrokesSeries: Tom Bishop, Tim Bishop (3 episodes)
  18. 1978DallasSeries: Mitchell (1 episode)
  19. 1977Eight Is EnoughSeries (1 episode)
  20. 1976Charlie's AngelsSeries: Harrison (1 episode)
  21. 1972The WaltonsSeries (1 episode)
  22. 1969The Bill Cosby ShowSeries: Tom Bennett (1 episode)
  23. 1969Lassie: The Adventures of NeekaFilm: Dean Chalmers (archive footage)
  24. 1968Lassies Abenteuer in AlaskaFilm: Dean Chalmers
  25. 1968Here's LucySeries: Jack Scott (1 episode)
  26. 1968Sol MadridFilm: Chief Danvers
  27. 1966Summer FunSeries (1 episode)
  28. 1965Green AcresSeries (1 episode)
  29. 1965A Letter to NancyFilm: Pastor
  30. 1964Espionage Target: YouFilm: Agent (uncredited)
  31. 1963Petticoat JunctionSeries (1 episode)
  32. 1962The Lucy ShowSeries: Tom Bennett (1 episode)
  33. 1961Bus StopSeries (1 episode)
  34. 1960The Roaring 20'sSeries (1 episode)
  35. 1960Surfside 6Series (1 episode)
  36. 1959The Man from BlackhawkSeries: Sam Logan (37 episodes)
  37. 1958Westinghouse Desilu PlayhouseSeries (1 episode)
  38. 1958Yancy DerringerSeries: Phillip Hampton (1 episode)
  39. 1958BroncoSeries (1 episode)
  40. 1958Turn the Other CheekFilm: Ben Hanson
  41. 1957MaverickSeries (1 episode)
  42. 1957Perry MasonSeries: Dick Benedict, Maj. Jerry Reynolds, Cole B. Troy, Everett Rixby, Ed Purvis (1 episode)
  43. 1956Our Miss BrooksFilm: Phillip 'Phil' Boynton
  44. 1955Navy LogSeries (2 episodes)
  45. 1955GunsmokeSeries: Mr. Philips (1 episode)
  46. 1955The MillionaireSeries: Prof. Amberson Adams, Dolph Randolph (1 episode)
  47. 1954LassieSeries (5 episodes)
  48. 1953Letter to LorettaSeries: Jeb Stewart (1 episode)
  49. 1953The War of the WorldsFilm: Forest Ranger at Crash Site (uncredited)
  50. 1952Our Miss BrooksSeries: Philip Boynton (130 episodes)
  51. 1952Cavalcade of AmericaSeries (1 episode)
  52. 1952Just for YouFilm: John Ransome
  53. 1952Adventures of SupermanSeries: Jor-El (uncredited) (1 episode)
  54. 1952The Turning PointFilm: Reporter (uncredited)
  55. 1951Racket SquadSeries (2 episodes)
  56. 1951The Prince Who Was a ThiefFilm: (uncredited)
  57. 1951The FrogmenFilm: Lt. Bill Doyle
  58. 1950Prisoners in PetticoatsFilm: Mark Hampton
  59. 1950Lonely Heart BanditsFilm: Police Lt. Carroll
  60. 1950Trial Without JuryFilm: Police Lt. Bill Peters
  61. 1950Destination Big HouseFilm: Dr. Walter Phillips
  62. 1950Women from HeadquartersFilm: Gates
  63. 1950Federal Agent at LargeFilm: Dr. Ross Carrington
  64. 1950Belle of Old MexicoFilm: Kip Armitage III
  65. 1950UnmaskedFilm: Detective Lt. James 'Jim' Webster
  66. 1949The Blonde BanditFilm: Dist. Atty. Devron
  67. 1949Alias the ChampFilm: Ron Peterson
  68. 1949The Lone RangerSeries: Randy Tyler (1 episode)
  69. 1949The Red MenaceFilm: Bill Jones
  70. 1948You Gotta Stay HappyFilm: Eddie

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.