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Robert Young
Acting

Robert Young

135 titles on file · died at 91 · Chicago, Illinois, USA · IMDb ↗

Robert George Young  (February 22, 1907 – July 21, 1998) was an American television, film, and radio actor, best known for his leading roles as Jim Anderson, the father of Father Knows Best (NBC and then CBS) and as physician Marcus Welby in Marcus Welby, M.D. (ABC). Young appeared in over 100 films between 1931 and 1952. After appearing on stage, Young was signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and, in spite of having a "tier B" status, he co-starred with some of the studio's most illustrious actresses, such as Katharine Hepburn, Margaret Sullavan, Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Helen Hayes, Luise Rainer, Hedy Lamarr, and Helen Twelvetrees. Yet, most of his assignments consisted of B movies, also known as "programmers," which required two to three weeks of shooting (considered very brief shooting periods at the time). Actors who were relegated to such a hectic schedule appeared, as Young did, in some six to eight movies per year. As an MGM contract player, Young was resigned to the fate of most of his colleagues—to accept any film assigned to him or risk being placed on suspension—and many actors on suspension were prohibited from earning a salary from any endeavor at all (even those unrelated to the film industry). In 1936, MGM summarily loaned Young to Gaumont British for two films; the first was directed by Alfred Hitchcock with the other co-starring Jessie Matthews. While there he surmised that his employers intended to terminate his contract, but he was mistaken. He unexpectedly received one of his most rewarding roles late in his MGM career, in H.M. Pulham, Esq., featuring one of Hedy Lamarr's most effective performances. He once remarked that he was assigned only those roles which Robert Montgomery and other A-list actors had rejected. After his contract ended at MGM, Young starred in light comedies as well as in trenchant dramas for studios such as 20th Century Fox, United Artists, and RKO Radio Pictures. From 1943, Young assayed more challenging roles in films like Claudia, The Enchanted Cottage, They Won't Believe Me, The Second Woman, and Crossfire. His portrayal of unsympathetic characters in several of these later films—which was seldom the case in his MGM pictures—was applauded by numerous reviewers. Young's career began an incremental and imperceptible decline, despite a propitious beginning as a freelance actor without the nurturing of a major studio. He continued starring as a leading man in the late 1940s and early 1950s, but only in mediocre films, then he subsequently disappeared from the silver screen - only to reappear several years later on a much smaller one. Description above from the Wikipedia article Robert Young (actor), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

known for

Filmography · 133

Father Knows Best
TV ★ 3.3

Father Knows Best

1954 · Jim Anderson

Golden Globe Awards
TV ★ 3.5

Golden Globe Awards

1944 · Self - Nominee

The Merv Griffin Show
TV ★ 3.4

The Merv Griffin Show

1962 · Self

Climax!
TV ★ 1.9

Climax!

1954 · Lieutenant Commander K...

Dr. Kildare
TV ★ 2.9

Dr. Kildare

1961 · Dr. Gilbert Winfield

What's My Line?
TV ★ 3.5

What's My Line?

1950 · Self

The Dick Cavett Show
TV ★ 3.4

The Dick Cavett Show

1968 · Self - Guest

The Partridge Family
TV ★ 3.4

The Partridge Family

1970

Marcus Welby, M.D.
TV ★ 3.3

Marcus Welby, M.D.

1969 · Dr. Marcus Welby

The Steve Allen Show
TV ★ 3.1

The Steve Allen Show

1956 · Self - Guest

The Name of the Game
TV ★ 3.5

The Name of the Game

1968 · Herman Allison

The Ed Sullivan Show
TV ★ 3.4

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948 · Self

Dinah!
TV ★ 3.5

Dinah!

1974 · Self

This Is Your Life
TV ★ 3.3

This Is Your Life

1952 · Self

Donny & Marie
TV ★ 3.4

Donny & Marie

1976 · Self

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
TV ★ 3.3

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law

1971 · Dr. Marcus Welby

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
TV ★ 3.4

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

1969 · Self

ABC Stage 67
TV ★ 3.4

ABC Stage 67

1966 · Self - Host

Vanished
TV ★ 2.5

Vanished

1971 · Sen. Earl Gannon

That's Entertainment!
Film ★ 3.7

That's Entertainment!

1974 · (archive footage) (unc...

That's Entertainment! III
Film ★ 3.5

That's Entertainment! III

1994 · (archive footage)

Little Women
TV ★ 3.1

Little Women

1978 · Mr. Laurence

Western Union
Film ★ 3.0

Western Union

1941 · Richard Blake

That's Entertainment, Part II
Film ★ 3.5

That's Entertainment, Part II

1976 · (archive footage)

Carolina
Film ★ 3.3

Carolina

1934 · Will Connelly

Crossfire
Film ★ 3.3

Crossfire

1947 · Finlay

Honolulu
Film ★ 3.3

Honolulu

1939 · Brooks Mason / George...

They Won't Believe Me
Film ★ 3.3

They Won't Believe Me

1947 · Larry Ballentine

Slightly Dangerous
Film ★ 3.0

Slightly Dangerous

1943 · Bob Stuart

Secret of the Incas
Film ★ 2.9

Secret of the Incas

1954 · Stanley Moorehead

The Emperor's Candlesticks
Film ★ 2.5

The Emperor's Candlesticks

1937 · Grand Duke Peter

Lady Luck
Film ★ 2.8

Lady Luck

1946 · Larry Scott

Northwest Passage
Film ★ 3.3

Northwest Passage

1940 · Langdon Towne

The Canterville Ghost
Film ★ 3.4

The Canterville Ghost

1944 · Cuffy Williams

The Enchanted Cottage
Film ★ 3.7

The Enchanted Cottage

1945 · Oliver Bradford

Hell Below
Film ★ 3.0

Hell Below

1933 · Lieut. (JG) 'Brick' Wa...

The Toy Wife
Film ★ 2.5

The Toy Wife

1938 · Andre Vallaire

The Mortal Storm
Film ★ 3.7

The Mortal Storm

1940 · Fritz Marberg

Secret Agent
Film ★ 3.1

Secret Agent

1936 · Robert Marvin

The Sin of Madelon Claudet
Film ★ 2.9

The Sin of Madelon Claudet

1931 · Dr.Claudet

The House of Rothschild
Film ★ 3.1

The House of Rothschild

1934 · Capt. Fitzroy

Relentless
Film ★ 3.2

Relentless

1948 · Nick Buckley

Stowaway
Film ★ 3.4

Stowaway

1936 · Tommy Randall

The Half-Breed
Film ★ 3.5

The Half-Breed

1952 · Dan Craig

Twenty Years After
Film ★ 4.0

Twenty Years After

1944 · (archive footage)

Hollywood: Style Center of the World
Film ★ 2.9

Hollywood: Style Center of the World

1940 · Self

Adventure in Baltimore
Film ★ 2.6

Adventure in Baltimore

1949 · Dr. Andrew Sheldon

Navy Blue and Gold
Film ★ 2.9

Navy Blue and Gold

1937 · Roger 'Rog' Ash

Claudia and David
Film ★ 3.8

Claudia and David

1946 · David Naughton

The Wet Parade
Film ★ 3.1

The Wet Parade

1932 · Kip Tarleton

The Romance of Celluloid
Film ★ 3.5

The Romance of Celluloid

1937 · Self (archive footage)

Bride for Sale
Film ★ 3.5

Bride for Sale

1949 · Steve Adams

H.M. Pulham, Esq.
Film ★ 3.6

H.M. Pulham, Esq.

1941 · Harry Moulton Pulham

The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D.
Film ★ 4.5

The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D.

1984 · Dr. Marcus Welby

The Black Camel
Film ★ 3.0

The Black Camel

1931 · Jimmy Bradshaw

Hollywood Party
Film ★ 2.8

Hollywood Party

1934 · Radio Announcer (uncre...

The Shining Hour
Film ★ 3.4

The Shining Hour

1938 · David Linden

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
Film ★ 4.2

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic

1990 · Self

Sweet Rosie O'Grady
Film ★ 3.3

Sweet Rosie O'Grady

1943 · Samuel Magee

My Darling Daughters' Anniversary
Film ★ 3.8

My Darling Daughters' Anniversary

1973 · Judge Charles Raleigh

West Point of the Air
Film ★ 3.5

West Point of the Air

1935 · Little Mike Stone

The Bride Wore Red
Film ★ 3.4

The Bride Wore Red

1937 · Rudolph 'Rudi' Pal

Goodbye, My Fancy
Film ★ 3.2

Goodbye, My Fancy

1951 · Doctor James Merrill

Dr. Kildare's Crisis
Film ★ 3.3

Dr. Kildare's Crisis

1940 · Douglas Lamont

The Second Woman
Film ★ 2.8

The Second Woman

1950 · Jeff Cohalan

Hollywood’s Children
Film ★ 4.5

Hollywood’s Children

1982 · Self (archive footage)

Sitting Pretty
Film ★ 3.6

Sitting Pretty

1948 · Harry King

Three Comrades
Film ★ 3.7

Three Comrades

1938 · Gottfried Lenz

Florian
Film ★ 2.3

Florian

1940 · Anton Erban

Sporting Blood
Film ★ 2.1

Sporting Blood

1940 · Myles Vanders

The Father Knows Best Reunion
Film ★ 2.9

The Father Knows Best Reunion

1977 · James Anderson

All My Darling Daughters
Film ★ 3.8

All My Darling Daughters

1972 · Judge Charles Raleigh

Mercy or Murder?
Film ★ 5.0

Mercy or Murder?

1987 · Roswell Gilbert

Lady Be Good
Film ★ 2.8

Lady Be Good

1941 · Edward 'Eddie' Crane

Lazy River
Film ★ 3.5

Lazy River

1934 · William 'Bill' Drexel

That Forsyte Woman
Film ★ 3.0

That Forsyte Woman

1949 · Philip Bosinney

Saturday's Millions
Film ★ 3.5

Saturday's Millions

1933 · Jim Fowler

Joe Smith, American
Film ★ 3.3

Joe Smith, American

1942 · Joe Smith

Dangerous Number
Film ★ 2.4

Dangerous Number

1937 · Hank

Vagabond Lady
Film ★ 3.6

Vagabond Lady

1935 · Tony Spear

Married Bachelor
Film ★ 3.2

Married Bachelor

1941 · Randolph Haven

A Conspiracy of Love
Film ★ 4.0

A Conspiracy of Love

1987 · Joe Woldarski

I Met Him in Paris
Film ★ 3.1

I Met Him in Paris

1937 · Gene Anders

Calm Yourself
Film ★ 3.0

Calm Yourself

1935 · Preston Patton

Journey for Margaret
Film ★ 3.4

Journey for Margaret

1942 · John Davis

The Guilty Generation
Film ★ 3.1

The Guilty Generation

1931 · Marco Ricca, also know...

Death on the Diamond
Film ★ 3.7

Death on the Diamond

1934 · Larry Kelly

The Right To Romance
Film ★ 2.4

The Right To Romance

1933 · Bobby Preble

Rich Man, Poor Girl
Film ★ 3.1

Rich Man, Poor Girl

1938 · Bill Harrison

Tugboat Annie
Film ★ 3.7

Tugboat Annie

1933 · Alec (Son)

Hollywood Goes to Town
Film ★ 3.5

Hollywood Goes to Town

1938 · Self

Remember Last Night?
Film ★ 2.8

Remember Last Night?

1935 · Tony Milburn

Paris Interlude
Film ★ 2.0

Paris Interlude

1934 · Pat

Cairo
Film ★ 3.2

Cairo

1942 · Homer Smith, aka Junip...

A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound
Film ★ 3.4

A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

1940 · Self

Hollywood Hobbies
Film ★ 2.8

Hollywood Hobbies

1939 · Self (uncredited)

The Bride Comes Home
Film ★ 2.6

The Bride Comes Home

1935 · Jack Bristow

Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To
Film ★ 4.3

Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To

1990 · (archive footage)

The Bride Walks Out
Film ★ 2.7

The Bride Walks Out

1936 · Hugh McKenzie

Miracles for Sale
Film ★ 3.2

Miracles for Sale

1939 · Michael Morgan

New Morals for Old
Film ★ 2.3

New Morals for Old

1932 · Ralph Thomas

The Kid from Spain
Film ★ 3.3

The Kid from Spain

1932 · Ricardo

Sworn Enemy
Film ★ 2.9

Sworn Enemy

1936 · Henry 'Hank' Sherman

The Searching Wind
Film ★ 4.0

The Searching Wind

1946 · Alex Hazen

The Band Plays On
Film ★ 4.2

The Band Plays On

1934 · Tony Ferrera

Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Matter of Humanities
Film ★ 5.0

Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Matter of Humanities

1969 · Marcus Welby

Red Salute
Film ★ 3.0

Red Salute

1935 · Jeff

Father Knows Best: Home for Christmas
Film ★ 3.7

Father Knows Best: Home for Christmas

1977 · Jim Anderson

Men Must Fight
Film ★ 3.1

Men Must Fight

1933 · Geoffrey Aiken

Spitfire
Film ★ 2.7

Spitfire

1934 · John Stafford

Today We Live
Film ★ 3.2

Today We Live

1933 · Claude William Hope

Strange Interlude
Film ★ 2.8

Strange Interlude

1932 · Gordon Evans as a youn...

Married Before Breakfast
Film ★ 3.5

Married Before Breakfast

1937 · Tom Wakefield

The Big Moment
Film

The Big Moment

1954 · Narrator

The Trial of Mary Dugan
Film ★ 3.3

The Trial of Mary Dugan

1941 · Jimmy Blake

Claudia
Film ★ 3.8

Claudia

1943 · David Naughton

And Baby Makes Three
Film ★ 2.5

And Baby Makes Three

1949 · Vernon 'Vern' Walsh

Bridal Suite
Film ★ 2.7

Bridal Suite

1939 · Neil McGill

Maisie
Film ★ 2.4

Maisie

1939 · Charles 'Slim' Martin

Those Endearing Young Charms
Film ★ 4.5

Those Endearing Young Charms

1945 · Lt. Hurley 'Hank' Trav...

Josette
Film ★ 3.6

Josette

1938 · Pierre Brassard

Whom the Gods Destroy
Film ★ 3.0

Whom the Gods Destroy

1934 · Jack Forrester

Calling Hubby's Bluff
Film ★ 5.0

Calling Hubby's Bluff

1929 · Party Guest (uncredite...

Paradise for Three
Film ★ 3.7

Paradise for Three

1938 · Fritz Hagedorn

Unashamed
Film ★ 3.6

Unashamed

1932 · Dick Ogden

The Longest Night
Film ★ 3.1

The Longest Night

1936 · Charley Phelps

Highball Highway
Film ★ 2.3

Highball Highway

1963 · Himself

Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair
Film ★ 4.5

Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair

1988 · Dr. Marcus Welby

Hell Divers
Film ★ 3.4

Hell Divers

1932 · Graham - Pilot Reporti...

Northward, Ho!
Film ★ 3.3

Northward, Ho!

1940 · Himself

The Campus Vamp
Film ★ 3.2

The Campus Vamp

1928 · Student at Dance / at...

The Three Wise Guys
Film ★ 4.5

The Three Wise Guys

1936 · Joe Hatcher

It's Love Again
Film ★ 3.3

It's Love Again

1936 · Peter Carlton

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