Robert Middleton

Biography

Robert Middleton was an American film and television actor, usually cast as ruthless villains and known for his large frame, heavy brows, and deep, booming voice. He was also known as Big Bob Middleton. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1911, he studied music at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and at Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh. His entertainment career began as a radio announcer at WLW in Cincinnati, and he worked steadily in radio before narrating the educational film Duck and Cover. After Broadway and live television appearances, he started making films in 1954. His movie credits included The Silver Chalice (1954), The Desperate Hours (1955), The Court Jester (1955), The Big Combo (1955), Friendly Persuasion (1956), Love Me Tender (1956), and The Law and Jake Wade (1958). On television he guest-starred in many 1950s and 1960s series, including Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and The Untouchables, often as mountain men, corrupt officials, or mob leaders. He died in 1977.

66years old at death

Born May 13, 1911Cincinnati
Died June 14, 1977Encino
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
Also credited as Samuel G. Messer

Movie Career

Films: 18
Career span: 19 years1954 to 1973

Genres

Drama39%, 7 films
Western39%, 7 films
Comedy33%, 6 films
Crime17%, 3 films
Romance17%, 3 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Early training
Middleton studied music at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and at Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, preparing for a musical career.
First role
Middleton started in entertainment as an announcer for WLW radio in Cincinnati. He went on to steady work as both a radio announcer and an actor.
First role
One of Middleton's early works was narrating the educational film Duck and Cover, and he did not begin appearing in films until 1954.

Robert Middleton movies on Netflix

Even Angels Eat Beans1973IMDb rating 6.2as Angelo
The Cheyenne Social Club1970IMDb rating 6.8as Barkeeper - Great Plains Saloon
Which Way to the Front?1970IMDb rating 4.6as Colonico
A Big Hand for the Little Lady1966IMDb rating 7.3as Dennis Wilcox
Hell Bent for Leather1960IMDb rating 6.6as Ambrose
The Great Impostor1960IMDb rating 6.9as R.C. Brown
Don't Give Up the Ship1959IMDb rating 6.3as Vice Adm. Philo Tecumseh Bludde
The Law and Jake Wade1958IMDb rating 6.8as Ortero
The Lonely Man1957IMDb rating 6.4as Ben Ryerson
The Tarnished Angels1957IMDb rating 7.1as Matt Ord
Friendly Persuasion1956IMDb rating 7.3as Sam Jordan
Love Me Tender1956IMDb rating 6.2as Mr. Siringo
Red Sundown1956IMDb rating 6.5as Rufus Henshaw
The Proud Ones1956IMDb rating 6.9as Honest John Barrett
The Big Combo1955IMDb rating 7.3as Police Capt. Peterson
The Court Jester1955IMDb rating 7.8as Sir Griswold
The Desperate Hours1955IMDb rating 7.5as Sam Kobish
The Silver Chalice1954IMDb rating 4.6as Idbash

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

The Court Jester1955 Adventure, Comedy, Familyas Sir Griswold
IMDb rating 7.815K votes
Friendly Persuasion1956 Drama, Family, Romanceas Sam Jordan
IMDb rating 7.38.5K votes
Love Me Tender1956as Mr. Siringo
IMDb rating 6.25.2K votes
Even Angels Eat Beans1973as Angelo
IMDb rating 6.23.7K votes
The Big Combo1955as Police Capt. Peterson
IMDb rating 7.310K votes
The Tarnished Angels1957as Matt Ord
IMDb rating 7.14.5K votes
The Law and Jake Wade1958as Ortero
IMDb rating 6.83.2K votes
The Cheyenne Social Club1970as Barkeeper - Great Plains Saloon
IMDb rating 6.85.6K votes

Most often with

William Wyler directed two of these films, Robert D. Webb two. Two actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Whit Bissell

Herbert Rudley

Henry Fonda

Jack Palance

Jerry Lewis

John Qualen

William WylerDirector, 2 films Robert D. WebbDirector, 2 films

Films together

Whit Bissell3 films together, 1955 to 1956
Whit Bissell's page
- The Proud Ones1956IMDb rating 6.9Middleton as Honest John BarrettBissell as Mr. Sam Bolton
- The Big Combo1955IMDb rating 7.3Middleton as Police Capt. PetersonBissell as Doctor (scenes deleted)
- The Desperate Hours1955IMDb rating 7.5Middleton as Sam KobishBissell as FBI Agent Carson
Herbert Rudley3 films together, 1954 to 1960
Herbert Rudley's page
- Hell Bent for Leather1960IMDb rating 6.6Middleton as AmbroseRudley as Perrick
- The Court Jester1955IMDb rating 7.8Middleton as Sir GriswoldRudley as Captain of the Guard
- The Silver Chalice1954IMDb rating 4.6Middleton as IdbashRudley as Linus
Henry Fonda2 films together, 1966 to 1970
Henry Fonda's page
- The Cheyenne Social Club1970IMDb rating 6.8Middleton as Barkeeper - Great Plains SaloonFonda as Harley Sullivan
- A Big Hand for the Little Lady1966IMDb rating 7.3Middleton as Dennis WilcoxFonda as Meredith
Jack Palance2 films together, 1954 to 1957
Jack Palance's page
- The Lonely Man1957IMDb rating 6.4Middleton as Ben RyersonPalance as Jacob Wade
- The Silver Chalice1954IMDb rating 4.6Middleton as IdbashPalance as Simon the Magician
Jerry Lewis2 films together, 1959 to 1970
Jerry Lewis's page
- Which Way to the Front?1970IMDb rating 4.6Middleton as ColonicoLewis as Brendan Byers III
- Don't Give Up the Ship1959IMDb rating 6.3Middleton as Vice Adm. Philo Tecumseh BluddeLewis as John Paul Steckler I / John Paul Steckler IV / John Paul Steckler VII
John Qualen2 films together, 1960 to 1966
John Qualen's page
- A Big Hand for the Little Lady1966IMDb rating 7.3Middleton as Dennis WilcoxQualen as Jesse Buford
- Hell Bent for Leather1960IMDb rating 6.6Middleton as AmbroseQualen as Old Ben
William WylerDirector, 2 films, 1955 to 1956
All films by William Wyler
- Friendly Persuasion1956IMDb rating 7.3Middleton as Sam Jordan
- The Desperate Hours1955IMDb rating 7.5Middleton as Sam Kobish
Robert D. WebbDirector, 2 films, 1956
All films by Robert D. Webb
- Love Me Tender1956IMDb rating 6.2Middleton as Mr. Siringo
- The Proud Ones1956IMDb rating 6.9Middleton as Honest John Barrett
Also two films together17 more actors
- Lee Van CleefThe Lonely Man (1957) and The Big Combo (1955)
- Robert AdlerLove Me Tender (1956) and The Proud Ones (1956)
- Anthony PerkinsThe Lonely Man (1957) and Friendly Persuasion (1956)
- Arthur O'ConnellThe Great Impostor (1960) and The Proud Ones (1956)
- Claude AkinsDon't Give Up the Ship (1959) and The Lonely Man (1957)
- Neville BrandThe Lonely Man (1957) and Love Me Tender (1956)
- Paul E. BurnsLove Me Tender (1956) and The Proud Ones (1956)
- Michael PateThe Court Jester (1955) and The Silver Chalice (1954)
- Robert J. WilkeThe Cheyenne Social Club (1970) and The Tarnished Angels (1957)
- Virginia MayoThe Proud Ones (1956) and The Silver Chalice (1954)
- Roy EngelHell Bent for Leather (1960) and The Law and Jake Wade (1958)
- Doodles WeaverWhich Way to the Front? (1970) and The Great Impostor (1960)
- Alan ReedThe Tarnished Angels (1957) and The Desperate Hours (1955)
- Dick SargentThe Great Impostor (1960) and Love Me Tender (1956)
- Sue Ane LangdonThe Cheyenne Social Club (1970) and The Great Impostor (1960)
- Ken ClarkLove Me Tender (1956) and The Proud Ones (1956)
- Richard EyerFriendly Persuasion (1956) and The Desperate Hours (1955)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.