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Robert Armstrong (actor)
Encyclopedia
Robert Armstrong was an American
film actor best remembered for his role as Carl Denham
in the 1933 version of King Kong
by RKO Pictures
. He uttered the famous exit quote, "'Twas beauty killed the beast," at the film's end. Months later, he starred as Carl Denham
again in the sequel, Son of Kong, released the same year.
In the late 1950s
, Armstrong appeared as Sheriff
Andy Anderson on Rod Cameron
's syndicated
western
-themed television series, State Trooper
.
, he studied to be a lawyer but gave it up to manage his uncle's touring companies. In his spare time he wrote plays which eventually led to his appearance in one of them. He served in WWI and found his uncle had died when he came back home. Armstrong went to London and in 1926 appeared on the stage for a season. In 1928, his screen career started when he appeared in Pathé's The Main Event.
Armstrong resembled King Kong producer and adventurer Merian C. Cooper
and Cooper used him in several films as more or less a version of himself. Armstrong also worked throughout the 1930s
and 1940s
for many studios. In 1937 he starred in the movies With Words and Music released by Grand National Films Inc.
. Prior to World War II
, in the early 1940s, Universal Pictures
released Enemy Agent, about a plot to thwart the Nazis. In the film, Armstrong co-starred with Helen Vinson
, Richard Cromwell
, and Jack La Rue
. Later, in 1942
, Armstrong played again opposite Cromwell in Baby Face Morgan
, a notable "B" effort for PRC (Producers Releasing Corporation
). Later in that decade, Armstrong played another Carl Denham
-like leading role, as "Max O'Hara," in 1949's Mighty Joe Young. This film was yet another stop-motion gorilla opus also made by the King Kong team of Merian C. Cooper
and Ernest B. Schoedsack
, and it was remade in 1998 with Charlize Theron
.
Although King Kong in 1933 was the pinnacle of Armstrong's career, he appeared in 127 films between 1927 and 1964.
in Santa Monica
, California
. He and King Kongs co-producer, Merian C. Cooper, died within sixteen hours of each other.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film actor best remembered for his role as Carl Denham
Carl Denham
Carl Denham is a fictional film director in the films King Kong and Son of Kong , as well as in the 2005 remake of King Kong, and a 2004 illustrated-novel titled Kong: King of Skull Island. The role was played by Robert Armstrong in the 1933 films and by Jack Black in the 2005 remake...
in the 1933 version of King Kong
King Kong (1933 film)
King Kong is a Pre-Code 1933 fantasy monster adventure film co-directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, and written by Ruth Rose and James Ashmore Creelman after a story by Cooper and Edgar Wallace. The film tells of a gigantic island-dwelling apeman creature called Kong who dies in...
by RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures is an American film production and distribution company. As RKO Radio Pictures Inc., it was one of the Big Five studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum theater chains and Joseph P...
. He uttered the famous exit quote, "'Twas beauty killed the beast," at the film's end. Months later, he starred as Carl Denham
Carl Denham
Carl Denham is a fictional film director in the films King Kong and Son of Kong , as well as in the 2005 remake of King Kong, and a 2004 illustrated-novel titled Kong: King of Skull Island. The role was played by Robert Armstrong in the 1933 films and by Jack Black in the 2005 remake...
again in the sequel, Son of Kong, released the same year.
In the late 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
, Armstrong appeared as Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
Andy Anderson on Rod Cameron
Rod Cameron
Rod Cameron was a Canadian-born movie actor whose career extended from the 1930s to the 1970s. He appeared in horror, war, action and science fiction movies, but is best remembered for his many Westerns....
's syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
-themed television series, State Trooper
State Trooper (TV series)
State Trooper is a half-hour television crime drama set in the 1950s American West, starring Rod Cameron as Rod Blake, an officer of the Nevada State Troopers. The series aired 104 episodes in syndication from September 25, 1956, to June 25, 1959...
.
Biography
Born in Saginaw, MichiganSaginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
, he studied to be a lawyer but gave it up to manage his uncle's touring companies. In his spare time he wrote plays which eventually led to his appearance in one of them. He served in WWI and found his uncle had died when he came back home. Armstrong went to London and in 1926 appeared on the stage for a season. In 1928, his screen career started when he appeared in Pathé's The Main Event.
Armstrong resembled King Kong producer and adventurer Merian C. Cooper
Merian C. Cooper
Merian Caldwell Cooper was an American aviator, United States Air Force and Polish Air Force officer, adventurer, screenwriter, and film director and producer. His most famous film was the 1933 movie King Kong.-Early life:...
and Cooper used him in several films as more or less a version of himself. Armstrong also worked throughout the 1930s
1930s
File:1930s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: Dorothea Lange's photo of the homeless Florence Thompson show the effects of the Great Depression; Due to the economic collapse, the farms become dry and the Dust Bowl spreads through America; The Battle of Wuhan during the Second Sino-Japanese...
and 1940s
1940s
File:1940s decade montage.png|Above title bar: events which happened during World War II : From left to right: Troops in an LCVP landing craft approaching "Omaha" Beach on "D-Day"; Adolf Hitler visits Paris, soon after the Battle of France; The Holocaust occurred during the war as Nazi Germany...
for many studios. In 1937 he starred in the movies With Words and Music released by Grand National Films Inc.
Grand National Films Inc.
Grand National Films, Inc or Grand National Pictures was an American motion picture company in operation from 1936-1939. The company has no relation to the British Grand National Pictures.-History and releases:...
. Prior to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in the early 1940s, Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
released Enemy Agent, about a plot to thwart the Nazis. In the film, Armstrong co-starred with Helen Vinson
Helen Vinson
Helen Vinson was an American film actress, who appeared in 40 films between 1932 and 1945.-Early life:...
, Richard Cromwell
Richard Cromwell (actor)
Richard Cromwell, born LeRoy Melvin Radabaugh , was an American actor. His family and friends called him Roy, though he was also professionally known and signed autographs as Dick Cromwell. Cromwell's career was at its pinnacle with his work in Jezebel with Bette Davis and Henry Fonda and again...
, and Jack La Rue
Jack La Rue
Jack La Rue was an American film and stage actor.Born as Gaspere Biondolillo, he worked on the New York stage from 1923 to 1931. He moved to Hollywood, where he appeared in numerous films...
. Later, in 1942
1942 in film
The year 1942 in film involved some significant events, in particular the release of a film consistently rated as one of the greatest of all time, Casablanca.-Events:...
, Armstrong played again opposite Cromwell in Baby Face Morgan
Baby Face Morgan
Baby Face Morgan is a 1942 American comedy-drama film directed by Arthur Dreifuss. The film was a notable "B" effort for PRC . Jack Schwarz was producer, and Leon Fromkess, was listed as "in charge of production."...
, a notable "B" effort for PRC (Producers Releasing Corporation
Producers Releasing Corporation
Producers Releasing Corporation was one of the more lower-end Hollywood film studios on Poverty Row from the late '30s to the mid-'40s. PRC, as it was commonly known, made low-budget B-movies for the lower-half of a double bill. A few of its films have gained a respectable reputation over the...
). Later in that decade, Armstrong played another Carl Denham
Carl Denham
Carl Denham is a fictional film director in the films King Kong and Son of Kong , as well as in the 2005 remake of King Kong, and a 2004 illustrated-novel titled Kong: King of Skull Island. The role was played by Robert Armstrong in the 1933 films and by Jack Black in the 2005 remake...
-like leading role, as "Max O'Hara," in 1949's Mighty Joe Young. This film was yet another stop-motion gorilla opus also made by the King Kong team of Merian C. Cooper
Merian C. Cooper
Merian Caldwell Cooper was an American aviator, United States Air Force and Polish Air Force officer, adventurer, screenwriter, and film director and producer. His most famous film was the 1933 movie King Kong.-Early life:...
and Ernest B. Schoedsack
Ernest B. Schoedsack
Ernest Beaumont Schoedsack was an American motion picture cinematographer, director, and producer.Born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Schoedsack is probably best remembered for being the co-director of the 1933 film, King Kong....
, and it was remade in 1998 with Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron is a South African actress, film producer and former fashion model.She rose to fame in the late 1990s following her roles in 2 Days in the Valley, Mighty Joe Young, The Devil's Advocate and The Cider House Rules...
.
Although King Kong in 1933 was the pinnacle of Armstrong's career, he appeared in 127 films between 1927 and 1964.
Death
Armstrong died of cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He and King Kongs co-producer, Merian C. Cooper, died within sixteen hours of each other.