R.I.P. Cliff Robertson

[4th and Long]

Robertson played a future President of the United States in PT 109 (chosen personally by John F. Kennedy to portray the then-Lt. Kennedy) and a presidential candidate in The Best Man (1964). Later came Charly (an adaptation of Flowers for Algernon for which he won the 1968 Academy Award for Best Actor).

Other films included Picnic (1955), Autumn Leaves (1956), Gidget (1959), Sunday in New York (1963), Devil's Brigade (1968), Too Late the Hero (1970), J. W. Coop (1972), Three Days of the Condor (1975), Obsession (1976), Star 80 (1983) and Malone (1987). Late in his life Robertson's career had a resurgence. He appeared as Uncle Ben Parker in the first movie adaptation of Spider-Man (2002), as well as in the sequels Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007). He commented on his website that "Since Spider-Man 1 and 2, I seem to have a whole new generation of fans. That in itself is a fine residual."[9] He was also in the horror film Riding the Bullet (2004).

Robertson's television appearances included The Twilight Zone episodes "A Hundred Yards Over the Rim" (1961) and "The Dummy" (1962) followed by guest starring roles in such series as the NBC medical drama about psychiatry The Eleventh Hour (1963) in the role of Jeff Dillon, "The Man Who Came Home Late". In 1958, he portrayed Joe Clay in the very first broadcast of Playhouse 90's Days of Wine and Roses, in what some critics cite as the superior version of this story about alcoholism. Other network appearances included The Greatest Show on Earth (1963) and ABC's Breaking Point (1964) and the ABC Stage 67 episode "The Trap of Gold" (1966).

He had a starring role in the live space opera Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers (1953–1954), as well as recurring roles on Hallmark Hall of Fame (1952), Alcoa Theatre (1959), and Playhouse 90 (1958, 1960), The Outlaws (three episodes as Chad Burns), Batman as the villainous gunfighter Shame (1966, 1968), Falcon Crest (1983–1984) as Dr. Michael Ranson, and The Lyon's Den (2003). He had starring roles in episodes of both the 1960s and 1990s versions of The Outer Limits. He was awarded an Emmy for his leading role in an 1965 episode from Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre entitled "The Game". His second appearance on Batman featured his wife, Dina Merrill.

Robertson's most recent role(s) was that of Ben Parker in the Spiderman films.



On September 10, 2011, Robertson died from natural causes in New York one day after his 88th birthday.

One of Robertson's main hobbies was flying. He was airborne and piloting a private Beechcraft Baron directly over New York City on the morning of September 11, 2001. He was directly over the World Trade Center, climbing through 7,500 feet, when the first Boeing 767 struck. He was ordered by air traffic control to land immediately at the nearest airport following a nationwide order to ground all civilian and commercial aircraft following the attacks.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by frazod

I'm home sick today - on top of the Chiefs debacle yesterday I was apparently poisoned by the local Chinese place. In any event, in honor of Cliff Robertson, I watched one of my favorite old cheesy war movies, 633 Squadron, on You Tube. I saw that when I was a kid and loved it - probably hadn't seen it in over 30 years until today. That was always the first movie I thought of whenever his name came up.

RIP

PT 109 for me.

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

You'd think that a new tool would be sharper.

[Zebedee DuBois]

Robertson's television appearances included The Twilight Zone episodes "A Hundred Yards Over the Rim" (1961) and "The Dummy" (1962)

I remember being creeped out by 'The Dummy' when I was a kid.

[Extra Point]

Flowers for Algernon for me. Charlie was a character he really played well. Vonnegut rocks!

[Extra Point]

Originally Posted by Zebedee DuBois

I remember being creeped out by 'The Dummy' when I was a kid.

Yeah, well played!

[chefsos]

Originally Posted by frazod

I'm home sick today - on top of the Chiefs debacle yesterday I was apparently poisoned by the local Chinese place. In any event, in honor of Cliff Robertson, I watched one of my favorite old cheesy war movies, 633 Squadron, on You Tube. I saw that when I was a kid and loved it - probably hadn't seen it in over 30 years until today. That was always the first movie I thought of whenever his name came up.

RIP

Holy crap. I opened this thread specifically to mention 633 Squadron. I thought I was the only one who remembered it. Bad FX, great theme. Robertson was cool in this one.

...Isn't there a rumor that George Lucas borrowed the "Run Down The Canyon To The Death Star Poop Chute" scene from this movie?

Anyway, RIP.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by chefsos

Holy crap. I opened this thread specifically to mention 633 Squadron. I thought I was the only one who remembered it. Bad FX, great theme. Robertson was cool in this one.

...Isn't there a rumor that George Lucas borrowed the "Run Down The Canyon To The Death Star Poop Chute" scene from this movie?

Anyway, RIP.

Funny you should mention that, I was thinking the same thing while watching the movie. The canyon, the anti-aircraft fire, the shielded target, the enemy fighters coming in from behind, yeah, it's pretty hard to imagine George never watched this.