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Willard Robertson

Willard Robertson

30 movies on Netflix

Biography

Willard Robertson was an American actor and writer who first worked as a lawyer in Texas before Joseph Jefferson encouraged him to take up acting. A native of Runnels, Texas, he died in 1948. He appeared in 16 Broadway plays between 1907 and 1930, and his screen work included more than 140 films, starting in 1924 and continuing until 1948. From 1930 onward he mostly took supporting parts, typically men of authority such as doctors, lawyers, military officers and elected officials. He portrayed Jackie Cooper's stern but loving father in Skippy (1931) and again in the sequel Sooky (1931), a flamboyant lawyer in Remember the Night (1939) and the upright sheriff in The Ox-Bow Incident (1943). He also wrote the novel Moon Tide (1940), which became Archie Mayo's thriller Moontide (1942) with Jean Gabin and Ida Lupino.

62years old at death

Born January 1, 1886Runnels County
Died April 5, 1948Hollywood
Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19

Movie Career

Films: 30
Career span: 16 years1932 to 1948

Genres

Drama50%, 15 films
Western30%, 9 films
Comedy27%, 8 films
Crime27%, 8 films
Romance23%, 7 films

First and latest

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A change of course
Robertson was a lawyer in Texas before he switched to acting. Joseph Jefferson encouraged him to make the change, and he left the law for that new interest.
Behind the camera
Robertson's novel Moon Tide, published in 1940, became the 1942 drama thriller Moontide, directed by Archie Mayo and starring Jean Gabin and Ida Lupino.

Willard Robertson movies on Netflix

Sitting Pretty1948IMDb rating 7.4as Mr. Ashcroft
Deep Valley1947IMDb rating 6.8as Sheriff Akers
My Favorite Brunette1947IMDb rating 6.7as Prison Warden
To Each His Own1946IMDb rating 7.6as Dr. Hunt
Along Came Jones1945IMDb rating 6.5as Luke Packard
Air Force1943IMDb rating 7.0as Colonel at Hickam Field
Background to Danger1943IMDb rating 6.4as McNamara
The Ox-Bow Incident1943IMDb rating 8.0as Sheriff Risley
Texas1941IMDb rating 6.7as Rancher Wilson
The Monster and the Girl1941IMDb rating 6.0as Lieutenant Strickland
Brigham Young1940IMDb rating 6.3as Heber Kimball
My Little Chickadee1940IMDb rating 6.8as Uncle John
North West Mounted Police1940IMDb rating 6.3as Supt. Harrington
Each Dawn I Die1939IMDb rating 7.2as Lang
Heritage of the Desert1939IMDb rating 6.4as Nebraska
Jesse James1939IMDb rating 7.0as Clarke
Remember the Night1939IMDb rating 7.5as Francis X. O'Leary
Union Pacific1939IMDb rating 7.0as Oakes Ames
You and Me1938IMDb rating 6.8as Dayton
The Last of the Mohicans1936IMDb rating 6.6as Captain Winthrop
Gambling Lady1934IMDb rating 6.5as District Attorney
Here Comes the Navy1934IMDb rating 6.2as Executive Officer
Frisco Jenny1933IMDb rating 6.8as Police Capt. Tom
Lady Killer1933IMDb rating 7.0as Detective Conroy
Roman Scandals1933IMDb rating 6.6as Warren Finley Cooper
Supernatural1933IMDb rating 6.1as Prison Warden
Wild Boys of the Road1933IMDb rating 7.5as Captain of Detectives
Call Her Savage1932IMDb rating 7.0as Pete Springer
Doctor X1932IMDb rating 6.4as Detective O'Halloran
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang1932IMDb rating 8.2as Prison Board Chairman

Best known for

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

Remember the Night1939 Comedy, Drama, Romanceas Francis X. O'Leary
IMDb rating 7.58.4K votes
The Ox-Bow Incident1943 Drama, Westernas Sheriff Risley
IMDb rating 8.028K votes
Background to Danger1943as McNamara
IMDb rating 6.41.8K votes
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang1932as Prison Board Chairman
IMDb rating 8.216K votes
Doctor X1932as Detective O'Halloran
IMDb rating 6.44.9K votes
My Little Chickadee1940as Uncle John
IMDb rating 6.83.4K votes
My Favorite Brunette1947as Prison Warden
IMDb rating 6.74.2K votes
Deep Valley1947as Sheriff Akers
IMDb rating 6.81.2K votes

Most often with

William A. Wellman directed three of these films, Mitchell Leisen two and Cecil B. DeMille two. Robert Barrat appears in six 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.

Robert Barrat

Charles Arnt

Jane Darwell

Barbara Stanwyck

James Cagney

William A. WellmanDirector, 3 films Mitchell LeisenDirector, 2 films

Cecil B. DeMilleDirector, 2 films

Films together

Robert Barrat6 films together, 1933 to 1939
Robert Barrat's page
- Heritage of the Desert1939IMDb rating 6.4Robertson as NebraskaBarrat as Andrew Naab
- Union Pacific1939IMDb rating 7.0Robertson as Oakes AmesBarrat as Duke Ring
- The Last of the Mohicans1936IMDb rating 6.6Robertson as Captain WinthropBarrat as Chingachgook
- Gambling Lady1934IMDb rating 6.5Robertson as District AttorneyBarrat as Mike Lee
- Here Comes the Navy1934IMDb rating 6.2Robertson as Executive OfficerBarrat as Commander Denny
- Wild Boys of the Road1933IMDb rating 7.5Robertson as Captain of DetectivesBarrat as Judge R.H. White
Charles Arnt4 films together, 1933 to 1948
Charles Arnt's page
- Sitting Pretty1948IMDb rating 7.4Robertson as Mr. AshcroftArnt as Mr. Taylor
- My Favorite Brunette1947IMDb rating 6.7Robertson as Prison WardenArnt as Crawford
- Remember the Night1939IMDb rating 7.5Robertson as Francis X. O'LearyArnt as Tom
- Roman Scandals1933IMDb rating 6.6Robertson as Warren Finley CooperArnt as Caius - the Food Taster
Jane Darwell4 films together, 1933 to 1943
Jane Darwell's page
- The Ox-Bow Incident1943IMDb rating 8.0Robertson as Sheriff RisleyDarwell as Ma Grier
- Brigham Young1940IMDb rating 6.3Robertson as Heber KimballDarwell as Eliza Kent
- Jesse James1939IMDb rating 7.0Robertson as ClarkeDarwell as Mrs. Samuels
- Roman Scandals1933IMDb rating 6.6Robertson as Warren Finley CooperDarwell as Roman Spa Proprietress
Hank Bell4 films together, 1939 to 1945
Hank Bell's page
- Along Came Jones1945IMDb rating 6.5Robertson as Luke PackardBell as Posse Rider
- The Ox-Bow Incident1943IMDb rating 8.0Robertson as Sheriff RisleyBell as Red
- My Little Chickadee1940IMDb rating 6.8Robertson as Uncle JohnBell as Townsman
- Heritage of the Desert1939IMDb rating 6.4Robertson as NebraskaBell as Wedding Guest
Barbara Stanwyck3 films together, 1934 to 1939
Barbara Stanwyck's page
- Remember the Night1939IMDb rating 7.5Robertson as Francis X. O'LearyStanwyck as Lee Leander/Anna Rose Malone
- Union Pacific1939IMDb rating 7.0Robertson as Oakes AmesStanwyck as Mollie Monahan
- Gambling Lady1934IMDb rating 6.5Robertson as District AttorneyStanwyck as Jennifer Lady Lee
James Cagney3 films together, 1933 to 1939
James Cagney's page
- Each Dawn I Die1939IMDb rating 7.2Robertson as LangCagney as Frank Ross
- Here Comes the Navy1934IMDb rating 6.2Robertson as Executive OfficerCagney as Chesty O'Conner
- Lady Killer1933IMDb rating 7.0Robertson as Detective ConroyCagney as Dan Quigley
William A. WellmanDirector, 3 films, 1933 to 1943
All films by William A. Wellman
- The Ox-Bow Incident1943IMDb rating 8.0Robertson as Sheriff Risley
- Frisco Jenny1933IMDb rating 6.8Robertson as Police Capt. Tom
- Wild Boys of the Road1933IMDb rating 7.5Robertson as Captain of Detectives
Mitchell LeisenDirector, 2 films, 1939 to 1946
All films by Mitchell Leisen
- To Each His Own1946IMDb rating 7.6Robertson as Dr. Hunt
- Remember the Night1939IMDb rating 7.5Robertson as Francis X. O'Leary
Cecil B. DeMilleDirector, 2 films, 1939 to 1940
All films by Cecil B. DeMille
- North West Mounted Police1940IMDb rating 6.3Robertson as Supt. Harrington
- Union Pacific1939IMDb rating 7.0Robertson as Oakes Ames
Also three films together10 more actors
- Randolph ScottJesse James (1939), The Last of the Mohicans (1936) and Supernatural (1933)
- Marc LawrenceThe Ox-Bow Incident (1943), The Monster and the Girl (1941) and Brigham Young (1940)
- Brian DonlevyBrigham Young (1940), Jesse James (1939) and Union Pacific (1939)
- Wade BotelerMy Little Chickadee (1940), Gambling Lady (1934) and Wild Boys of the Road (1933)
- George RaftBackground to Danger (1943), Each Dawn I Die (1939) and You and Me (1938)
- Stanley RidgesAir Force (1943), Each Dawn I Die (1939) and Union Pacific (1939)
- Preston FosterNorth West Mounted Police (1940), Doctor X (1932) and I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
- Fuzzy KnightBrigham Young (1940), My Little Chickadee (1940) and Union Pacific (1939)
- John WrayEach Dawn I Die (1939), Remember the Night (1939) and Doctor X (1932)
- George BancroftTexas (1941), North West Mounted Police (1940) and Each Dawn I Die (1939)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.