Cliff Robertson

Cliff Robertson
Name	Cliff Robertson
Caption	Robertson in 1963
Birth name	Clifford Parker Robertson III
Birth date	9 September 1923
Birth place	La Jolla, San Diego, California, U.S.
Death date	10 September 2011
Death place	Stony Brook, Long Island, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1943–2007
Spouse	Cynthia Stone (1957–1959; divorced), Dina Merrill (1966–1989; divorced)

Cliff Robertson was an acclaimed American actor whose career spanned over six decades in film, television, and theater. He is best remembered for his Academy Award-winning performance as a mentally disabled man in the 1968 film Charly and for his principled stand in the David Begelman check forgery scandal. Robertson's versatile work included notable roles in ''PT 109'', The Best Man, and as Uncle Ben in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy.

Early life and education

Clifford Parker Robertson III was born in La Jolla, a community within San Diego, California. His early life was marked by instability, as he was largely raised by his grandmother following his parents' separation. He attended La Jolla High School, where he first developed an interest in performance. After a brief stint in the United States Merchant Marine during World War II, he utilized the G.I. Bill to further his education. Robertson studied at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, before transferring to the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

Career

Robertson began his professional career on the stage and in early live television, appearing on anthology series like Studio One. His film debut came with a minor role in Picnic (1955). He gained wider recognition portraying future President John F. Kennedy in the biographical war film PT 109 (1963). His career-defining role came in 1968 when he starred in Charly, a film adaptation of Daniel Keyes's story Flowers for Algernon; his performance earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. Throughout the 1970s, he starred in diverse projects such as the political drama The Best Man, the thriller Three Days of the Condor, and the disaster film The Pilot. In 1977, Robertson discovered that Columbia Pictures executive David Begelman had forged his signature on a $10,000 studio check; his public exposure of the fraud made him a controversial figure in Hollywood but was widely seen as an act of integrity. Later in his career, he became known to a new generation as Uncle Ben in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films.

Personal life

Robertson was married twice, first to actress Cynthia Stone from 1957 to 1959, with whom he had a daughter, Stephanie. His second marriage was to heiress and actress Dina Merrill, daughter of Marjorie Merriweather Post and E. F. Hutton; they were married from 1966 until their divorce in 1989. An avid aviator, Robertson owned and piloted several aircraft and was a strong advocate for general aviation. He divided his time between residences in Water Mill on Long Island and Aspen, Colorado. Robertson died of natural causes in Stony Brook, New York, one day after his 88th birthday.

Filmography

A selected list of his film work includes Autumn Leaves (1956), The Naked and the Dead (1958), Gidget (1959), The Interns (1962), Sunday in New York (1963), 633 Squadron (1964), The Honey Pot (1967), Too Late the Hero (1970), The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972), Man on a Swing (1974), Obsession (1976), Brainstorm (1983), and Escape from L.A. (1996). His final film appearance was in Spider-Man 3 (2007).

Awards and nominations

Robertson's performance in Charly earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1969. For the same role, he also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama and received recognition from the Kansas City Film Critics Circle. Earlier in his career, he won an Emmy Award for his performance in the television drama The Game (1967). He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to motion pictures.

Legacy

Cliff Robertson is remembered as a skilled and thoughtful actor who successfully transitioned from leading man to respected character actor. His courageous actions during the David Begelman scandal are considered a significant moment in Hollywood history, highlighting issues of corporate governance and ethics in the film industry. His portrayal of Uncle Ben in the Spider-Man films left an indelible mark on popular culture. Robertson's passion for aviation and his philanthropic efforts, particularly in support of the USO and various veterans' groups, also form an important part of his enduring legacy.

Category:American film actors Category:Best Actor Academy Award winners Category:1923 births Category:2011 deaths