Robert Cornthwaite
Biography
Robert Cornthwaite was an American actor who worked largely in character roles on film and television. Born in Saint Helens, Oregon, he became interested in acting as a teenager and began performing in a 1937 college production of Twelfth Night while at Reed College. He later studied at Long Beach City College and the University of Southern California, and worked at Southern California radio stations. In 1951 he was cast as Dr. Carrington in Howard Hawks's The Thing from Another World (1951), a performance that led to his induction into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 1993. He appeared in The War of the Worlds (1953), What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), and Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970). Cornthwaite remained primarily a stage actor and also translated plays from French into English. He appeared widely on television, including Perry Mason, Get Smart, and Picket Fences, and acted in The Cherry Orchard at the La Jolla Playhouse.
89years old at death
- Born Columbia County
- Died Woodland Hills
- Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
- Also credited as Robert O. Cornthwaite and Robert Rae Cornthwaite
Movie Career
- Films
- 12
- Career span
- 72 years1951 to 2023
Genres
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Big break
Cornthwaite played Dr. Carrington, the unofficial head of an Arctic polar expedition, in Howard Hawks's 1951 production of The Thing from Another World. That role later brought him into the "Science Fiction Hall of Fame" in 1993.
Behind the camera
Throughout his career, Cornthwaite stayed mainly a stage actor, and he also put a number of plays from French into English.
First role
Cornthwaite started acting in 1937, while he was a student at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, taking a part in a college staging of Twelfth Night.
First role
Cornthwaite became interested in acting during his early teens, after being made to speak a single line in a school play.
Robert Cornthwaite movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Robert Aldrich directed two of these films, Howard Hawks two. Paul Frees appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Paul Frees's page
William Schallert's page
Douglas Spencer's page
Wesley Addy's page
Dave Willock's page
Alex Rodine's page
All films by Robert Aldrich
All films by Howard Hawks
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.