Actor, Singer. He was best known for playing the character roles of criminals, promoters, radio announcers, performers, sergeants, captains, detectives, constables, lieutenants, priests, sheriffs, marshals, colonels, inspectors, doctors, and fire captains, usually in films that were made through Warner Brothers. He was part of the so-called "Warner Brothers Stock Company" that consisted of such players as James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Frank McHugh, Alan Hale and Humphrey Bogart, among many others. He will be best remembered for playing the role of 'Carl Denham' in the classic adventure horror Sci-Fi film, "King Kong" (1933, He also sang the song, "St. Louis Blues," in the film). The film which was directed by and written by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, which was also written for the screen by James Ashmore Creelman and Ruth Rose, and which also starred Fay Wray, Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher, Sam Hardy, and Noble Johnson, tells the story of a film crew who goes to a tropical island for an exotic location shoot and discovers a colossal ape who takes a shine to their female blonde star. He is then captured and brought back to New York City for public exhibition. He is also best remembered for playing the role of 'Sheriff Dan Walker' in the episode entitled "The Long Road Home," of the classic western television series, "Zane Grey Theatre," which originally aired on October 19, 1956, and which also starred Dick Powell, Ray Collins, and Ainslie Pryor, tells the story of Sam Gracie who returns to Texas from his law practice in Kansas. He is determined to bring an end to a feud involving his family to an end without the use of guns. He was born as Robert William Armstrong in Saginaw, Michigan, to William Noah Armstrong (1866-1921), and his wife Mina A. Lahman Armstrong (1868-1935), on November 20, 1890. He also lived in Bay City, Michigan, in 1902. His father owned boats on Lake Michigan, then moved the family west to Seattle, Washington, so that he could go prospecting in Alaska. He was educated locally and later served his country during World War I, with the rank of Private in the Infantry. He was also educated at the prestigious University of Washington School of Law in Seattle, Washington, where he became a member of the Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity, but dropped out only a few months before his graduation to follow a vaudeville troupe after discovering his interest in pursuing an acting career instead of a law career. He toured with the actor James Gleason and worked for a variety of playhouses in California and Oregon, before eventually going to New York City, New York. He began his acting career on Broadway in New York City, New York, in several stage productions in such plays, as 'Tom Miller' in "Boys Will Be Boys" (Oct 13, 1919, to November 1919), as 'Orville Bryan' in "Honey Girl" (May 03, 1920, to September 04, 1920), as 'Eddie "Chick" Cowan' in "Is Zat So?" (January 05, 1925, to July 31, 1926), as 'Robert Ford' in "Sure Fire" (October 20, 1926, to November 1926), and as 'H. Clifford Gates' in "Sleep No More" (August 31, 1944, to September 04, 1944). During his time on the stage he worked with the likes of Tom Brown, Marie Chambers, Marjorie Crossland, James Gleason, John C. King, William London, Victor Morley, Eleanor Parker, Carola Parson, Duncan Penwarden, Jack Perry, Sidney Riggs, Jo Wallace, Dodson Mitchell, Lynne Overman, Norman Foster, Mina Gleason, Paul Huber, William Jeffrey, Gene Lockhart, Stephen Maley, Hugh O'Connell, James Seeley, Nancy Sheridan, Lee Smith, Donnee Waldron, Ann Winston, Raymond Bramley, Horace Cooper, G. Swayne Gordon, Len Hollister, John Kane, Louise Larabee, Edward B. Latimer, Gerard Martin, John "Skins" Miller, George Offerman Jr., Patricia Ryan, and Doris Underwood. During his time on the stage he was noticed by talent scouts and eventually was signed to a contract and then he made the transition to appearing in films and on television. He made his actual film debut playing the role of 'Red Lucas' in the romantic film drama, "The Main Event" (1927). The film which was directed by William K. Howard, which was written for the screen by Rochus Gliese, which was based on the story, "This Makes Us Even," by Paul Allison, also starred Vera Reynolds, Rudolph Schildkraut, and Julia Faye. Besides, playing the role of 'Red Lucas' in the romantic film drama, "The Main Event" (1927), and playing the role of 'Carl Denham' in the classic adventure horror Sci-Fi film, "King Kong" (1933), his many other film credits include, "The Leopard Lady" (1928), "A Girl In Every Port" (1928), "Square Crooks" (1928), "The Cop" (1928), "The Baby Cyclone" (1928), "Celebrity" (1928), "Show Folks" (1928), "Ned McCobb's Daughter" (1928), "The Shady Lady" (1928), "The Leatherneck" (1929), "The Woman From Hell" (1929), "Big News" (1929), "Oh, Yeah?" (1929), "Players At Play" (1929), "The Racketeer" (1929), "Be Yourself!" (1930, He played the role of 'Jerry Moore' in the film and also sang the song, "Cookin' Breakfast for the One I Love," in the film), "Dumbbells In Ermine" (1930), "Danger Lights" (1930), "Big Money" (1930), "Paid" (1930), "Screen Snapshots Series 9, No. 24" (1930), "Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1" (1930), "Iron Man" (1931), "Ex-Bad Boy" (1931), "The Tip-Off" (1931), "Suicide Fleet" (1931), "Panama Flo" (1932), "The Lost Squadron" (1932, He played the role of Lt. Woody Kerwood' in the film and also sang the song, "Auld Lang Syne," in the film), "Radio Patrol" (1932), "Is My Face Red?" (1932), "Hold 'Em Jail" (1932), "The Most Dangerous Game" (1932), "Penguin Pool Murder" (1932), "The Billion Dollar Scandal" (1933), "Fast Workers" (1933), "I Love That Man" (1933), "Blind Adventure" (1933), "Above The Clouds" (1933), "Son Of Kong" (1933), "Palooka" (1934), "Search For Beauty" (1934), "She Made Her Bed" (1934), "Manhattan Love Song" (1934), "The Hell Cat" (1934), "Kansas City Princess" (1934), "Flirting With Danger" (1934), "The Mystery Man" (1935), "Gigolette" (1935), "Sweet Music" (1935, He played the role of 'Dopey' Malone' in the film and also sang the song, "The Good Green Acres Of Home," in the film), "G Men" (1935), "Little Big Shot" (1935), "Remember Last Night?" (1935), "Pirate Party On Catalina Isle" (1935), "Dangerous Waters" (1936), "The Ex-Mrs. Bradford" (1936), "Public Enemy's Wife" (1936), "All American Chump" (1936), "Without Orders" (1936), "Nobody's Baby" (1937), "Three Legionnaires" (1937), "It Can't Last Forever" (1937), "The Girl Said No" (1937), "She Loved A Fireman" (1937), "The Night Hawk" (1938), "There Goes My Heart" (1938), "The Flying Irishman" (1939), "Man Of Conquest" (1939), "Unmarried" (1939), "Winter Carnival" (1939), "Flight At Midnight" (1939), "Call A Messenger" (1939), "Framed" (1940), "Forgotten Girls" (1940), "Enemy Agent" (1940), "Service With The Colors" (1940), "The Bride Wore Crutches" (1940), "Behind The News" (1940), "Meet The Fleet" (1940), "San Francisco Docks" (1940), "Mr. Dynamite" (1941), "Sky Raiders" (1941), "Citadel Of Crime" (1941), "Dive Bomber" (1941), "Gang Busters" (1942), "My Favorite Spy" (1942), "It Happened In Flatbush" (1942), "Let's Get Tough!" (1942), "Baby Face Morgan" (1942), "The Fighting Engineers" (1943), "Wings Over The Pacific" (1943), "Adventures Of The Flying Cadets" (1943), "The Kansan" (1943), "The Mad Ghoul" (1943), "Around The World" (1943), "Action In Arabia" (1944), "The Navy Way" (1944), "Mr. Winkle Goes To War" (1944, He played the role of 'Joe Tinker' in the film and also sang the song, ""Sweet Genevieve," in the film), "Belle Of The Yukon" (1944), "Blood On The Sun" (1945), "Gangs Of The Waterfront" (1945), "The Falcon In San Francisco" (1945), "Arson Squad" (1945), "The Royal Mounted Rides Again" (1945), "Gay Blades" (1946), "Blonde Alibi" (1946), "G.I. War Brides" (1946), "Decoy" (1946), "Criminal Court" (1946), "The Sea Of Grass" (1947), "Fall Guy" (1947), "Exposed" (1947), "The Fugitive" (1947), "Return Of The Bad Men" (1948), "The Paleface" (1948), "Salt Of The Earth" (1948), "The Lucky Stiff" (1949), "The Crime Doctor's Diary" (1949), "Streets Of San Francisco" (1949), "Mighty Joe Young" (1949), "Sons Of New Mexico" (1949), "Captain Chin" (1950), "Destination Big House" (1950), "The Pace That Thrills" (1952), "Las Vegas Shakedown" (1955), "Double Jeopardy" (1955), "The Peacemaker" (1956), "The Crooked Circle" (1957), "Girl With An Itch" (1958), and "Johnny Cool" (1963). Besides, playing the role of 'Sheriff Dan Walker' in the episode entitled "The Long Road Home," of the classic western television series, "Zane Grey Theatre," which originally aired on October 19, 1956, and which also starred Dick Powell, Ray Collins, and Ainslie Pryor, tells the story of Sam Gracie who returns to Texas from his law practice in Kansas. He is determined to bring an end to a feud involving his family to an end without the use of guns. His many other television credits include, "The Silver Theatre," "The Bigelow Theatre," "The First Hundred Years," (He played the role of 'Mr. Martin' in 19 episodes of the dramatic television series, from 1950 to 1952), "Armstrong Circle Theatre," "Lux Video Theatre," "Public Defender," "Schlitz Playhouse," "Waterfront," "Adventures Of The Falcon," "The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse," "Soldiers Of Fortune," "General Electric Theater," "Cheyenne," 'Damon Runyon Theater," "Strange Stories," "Studio 57," "Camera Three," "The 20th Century-Fox Hour," "Broken Arrow," "The Red Skelton Hour," "Crossroads," "Code 3," "The Adventures Of McGraw," 'Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre," "Man Without A Gun," "Strange Stories," "Dr. Christian," 'Climax," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "Man With A Camera," 'Trackdown," "Cimarron City," "26 Men," "State Trooper" (He played the role of 'Sheriff Andy Anderson' in 28 episodes of the dramatic television series, "State Trooper," from 1956 to 1959), "Wagon Train," "Colt .45," "The Deputy," "M Squad," "Riverboat," "Sugarfoot," "This Is Your Life," "The Alaskans," "Bronco," "Lock Up," "Lawman," 'Laramie," "The Barbara Stanwyck Show," "Tales Of Wells Fargo," "Rawhide," "Lassie," Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "77 Sunset Strip," "Redigo," and "Perry Mason" (He made four guest appearances on the crime mystery television series drama, "Perry Mason," during its nine-year run on CBS, in 1958 he played as 'Walter Haskell' in "The Case Of The Sardonic Sergeant," in 1961 he played the title character and murder victim 'Captain Bancroft' in "The Case Of The Malicious Mariner," in 1962 he played defendant 'Jimmy West' in "The Case Of The Playboy Pugilist," and in 1964 he played murderer 'Phil Jenks' in "The Case Of The Accosted Accountant," thus becoming one of only eleven actors to hit the "Perry Mason," trifecta, playing victim, defendant and murderer). His last film role was playing 'Norman Armstrong - Cronin's Business Associate' in the comedy film, "For Those Who Think Young" (1964). The film which was directed by Leslie H. Martinson, which was written for the screen by James O'Hanlon, George O'Hanlon, and Dan Beaumont, and which also starred James Darren, Pamela Tiffin, and Paul Lynde, tells the story of a wealthy young man who tries to woo a university student, while her two uncles work to popularize a local club. He retired from acting shortly thereafter. During his acting career he also used the name Bob Armstrong. He passed away following a short battle with cancer at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, on April 20, 1973, at the age of 83. His funeral service was a private event and he was buried in Westwood Memorial Park in Westwood, California. He was married four times, first to the actress Peggy Fox Allenby Armstrong (1901-1966), from August 1920 until they divorced on April 17, 1925, second to the actress Jane Kent "Jeanne" Smith Armstrong (1903-1950), from June 12 1926, until they divorced on July 27, 1931, third to the actress Gladys Louise DuBois Armstrong (1907-1971), from January 10, 1936, until they divorced on December 31, 1939, and fourth to Claire Louise "Louise" Frisbie Armstrong (1892-1990), from January 1, 1940, until his death on April 20, 1973. He had no children. His uncle was the playwright and producer Paul Armstrong (1869–1915), who is best remembered for, "Alias Jimmy Valentine," "The Deep Purple," "The Greyhound, and the vaudeville sketch, "Woman Proposes, which he hired his nephew to direct, stage manage and appear in. On an interesting, he passed away one day before film producer Merian C. Cooper (1893-1973), with whom he worked on the films, "The Most Dangerous Game" (1932), "King Kong" (1933), "Blind Adventure" (1933), "Son Of Kong" (1933), "The Fugitive" (1947), and "Mighty Joe Young" (1949). He also wrote the book, ""A Sci-Fi Swarm And Horror Horde," in which talks bout his good friend the actor Jimmy Lydon (1923-2022). He and wife Louise became "adopted" parental figures to young actor Jimmy Lydon. He was 'best man' at Jimmy Lydon's 1952 wedding and godfather to his oldest daughter. After his death, Jimmy Lydon became Louise's guardian for 18 years until her death at the age of 97. His good friend and actor Jimmy Lydon passed away in San Diego, California, on March 9, 2022, at the age of 98.
Actor, Singer. He was best known for playing the character roles of criminals, promoters, radio announcers, performers, sergeants, captains, detectives, constables, lieutenants, priests, sheriffs, marshals, colonels, inspectors, doctors, and fire captains, usually in films that were made through Warner Brothers. He was part of the so-called "Warner Brothers Stock Company" that consisted of such players as James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Frank McHugh, Alan Hale and Humphrey Bogart, among many others. He will be best remembered for playing the role of 'Carl Denham' in the classic adventure horror Sci-Fi film, "King Kong" (1933, He also sang the song, "St. Louis Blues," in the film). The film which was directed by and written by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, which was also written for the screen by James Ashmore Creelman and Ruth Rose, and which also starred Fay Wray, Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher, Sam Hardy, and Noble Johnson, tells the story of a film crew who goes to a tropical island for an exotic location shoot and discovers a colossal ape who takes a shine to their female blonde star. He is then captured and brought back to New York City for public exhibition. He is also best remembered for playing the role of 'Sheriff Dan Walker' in the episode entitled "The Long Road Home," of the classic western television series, "Zane Grey Theatre," which originally aired on October 19, 1956, and which also starred Dick Powell, Ray Collins, and Ainslie Pryor, tells the story of Sam Gracie who returns to Texas from his law practice in Kansas. He is determined to bring an end to a feud involving his family to an end without the use of guns. He was born as Robert William Armstrong in Saginaw, Michigan, to William Noah Armstrong (1866-1921), and his wife Mina A. Lahman Armstrong (1868-1935), on November 20, 1890. He also lived in Bay City, Michigan, in 1902. His father owned boats on Lake Michigan, then moved the family west to Seattle, Washington, so that he could go prospecting in Alaska. He was educated locally and later served his country during World War I, with the rank of Private in the Infantry. He was also educated at the prestigious University of Washington School of Law in Seattle, Washington, where he became a member of the Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity, but dropped out only a few months before his graduation to follow a vaudeville troupe after discovering his interest in pursuing an acting career instead of a law career. He toured with the actor James Gleason and worked for a variety of playhouses in California and Oregon, before eventually going to New York City, New York. He began his acting career on Broadway in New York City, New York, in several stage productions in such plays, as 'Tom Miller' in "Boys Will Be Boys" (Oct 13, 1919, to November 1919), as 'Orville Bryan' in "Honey Girl" (May 03, 1920, to September 04, 1920), as 'Eddie "Chick" Cowan' in "Is Zat So?" (January 05, 1925, to July 31, 1926), as 'Robert Ford' in "Sure Fire" (October 20, 1926, to November 1926), and as 'H. Clifford Gates' in "Sleep No More" (August 31, 1944, to September 04, 1944). During his time on the stage he worked with the likes of Tom Brown, Marie Chambers, Marjorie Crossland, James Gleason, John C. King, William London, Victor Morley, Eleanor Parker, Carola Parson, Duncan Penwarden, Jack Perry, Sidney Riggs, Jo Wallace, Dodson Mitchell, Lynne Overman, Norman Foster, Mina Gleason, Paul Huber, William Jeffrey, Gene Lockhart, Stephen Maley, Hugh O'Connell, James Seeley, Nancy Sheridan, Lee Smith, Donnee Waldron, Ann Winston, Raymond Bramley, Horace Cooper, G. Swayne Gordon, Len Hollister, John Kane, Louise Larabee, Edward B. Latimer, Gerard Martin, John "Skins" Miller, George Offerman Jr., Patricia Ryan, and Doris Underwood. During his time on the stage he was noticed by talent scouts and eventually was signed to a contract and then he made the transition to appearing in films and on television. He made his actual film debut playing the role of 'Red Lucas' in the romantic film drama, "The Main Event" (1927). The film which was directed by William K. Howard, which was written for the screen by Rochus Gliese, which was based on the story, "This Makes Us Even," by Paul Allison, also starred Vera Reynolds, Rudolph Schildkraut, and Julia Faye. Besides, playing the role of 'Red Lucas' in the romantic film drama, "The Main Event" (1927), and playing the role of 'Carl Denham' in the classic adventure horror Sci-Fi film, "King Kong" (1933), his many other film credits include, "The Leopard Lady" (1928), "A Girl In Every Port" (1928), "Square Crooks" (1928), "The Cop" (1928), "The Baby Cyclone" (1928), "Celebrity" (1928), "Show Folks" (1928), "Ned McCobb's Daughter" (1928), "The Shady Lady" (1928), "The Leatherneck" (1929), "The Woman From Hell" (1929), "Big News" (1929), "Oh, Yeah?" (1929), "Players At Play" (1929), "The Racketeer" (1929), "Be Yourself!" (1930, He played the role of 'Jerry Moore' in the film and also sang the song, "Cookin' Breakfast for the One I Love," in the film), "Dumbbells In Ermine" (1930), "Danger Lights" (1930), "Big Money" (1930), "Paid" (1930), "Screen Snapshots Series 9, No. 24" (1930), "Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1" (1930), "Iron Man" (1931), "Ex-Bad Boy" (1931), "The Tip-Off" (1931), "Suicide Fleet" (1931), "Panama Flo" (1932), "The Lost Squadron" (1932, He played the role of Lt. Woody Kerwood' in the film and also sang the song, "Auld Lang Syne," in the film), "Radio Patrol" (1932), "Is My Face Red?" (1932), "Hold 'Em Jail" (1932), "The Most Dangerous Game" (1932), "Penguin Pool Murder" (1932), "The Billion Dollar Scandal" (1933), "Fast Workers" (1933), "I Love That Man" (1933), "Blind Adventure" (1933), "Above The Clouds" (1933), "Son Of Kong" (1933), "Palooka" (1934), "Search For Beauty" (1934), "She Made Her Bed" (1934), "Manhattan Love Song" (1934), "The Hell Cat" (1934), "Kansas City Princess" (1934), "Flirting With Danger" (1934), "The Mystery Man" (1935), "Gigolette" (1935), "Sweet Music" (1935, He played the role of 'Dopey' Malone' in the film and also sang the song, "The Good Green Acres Of Home," in the film), "G Men" (1935), "Little Big Shot" (1935), "Remember Last Night?" (1935), "Pirate Party On Catalina Isle" (1935), "Dangerous Waters" (1936), "The Ex-Mrs. Bradford" (1936), "Public Enemy's Wife" (1936), "All American Chump" (1936), "Without Orders" (1936), "Nobody's Baby" (1937), "Three Legionnaires" (1937), "It Can't Last Forever" (1937), "The Girl Said No" (1937), "She Loved A Fireman" (1937), "The Night Hawk" (1938), "There Goes My Heart" (1938), "The Flying Irishman" (1939), "Man Of Conquest" (1939), "Unmarried" (1939), "Winter Carnival" (1939), "Flight At Midnight" (1939), "Call A Messenger" (1939), "Framed" (1940), "Forgotten Girls" (1940), "Enemy Agent" (1940), "Service With The Colors" (1940), "The Bride Wore Crutches" (1940), "Behind The News" (1940), "Meet The Fleet" (1940), "San Francisco Docks" (1940), "Mr. Dynamite" (1941), "Sky Raiders" (1941), "Citadel Of Crime" (1941), "Dive Bomber" (1941), "Gang Busters" (1942), "My Favorite Spy" (1942), "It Happened In Flatbush" (1942), "Let's Get Tough!" (1942), "Baby Face Morgan" (1942), "The Fighting Engineers" (1943), "Wings Over The Pacific" (1943), "Adventures Of The Flying Cadets" (1943), "The Kansan" (1943), "The Mad Ghoul" (1943), "Around The World" (1943), "Action In Arabia" (1944), "The Navy Way" (1944), "Mr. Winkle Goes To War" (1944, He played the role of 'Joe Tinker' in the film and also sang the song, ""Sweet Genevieve," in the film), "Belle Of The Yukon" (1944), "Blood On The Sun" (1945), "Gangs Of The Waterfront" (1945), "The Falcon In San Francisco" (1945), "Arson Squad" (1945), "The Royal Mounted Rides Again" (1945), "Gay Blades" (1946), "Blonde Alibi" (1946), "G.I. War Brides" (1946), "Decoy" (1946), "Criminal Court" (1946), "The Sea Of Grass" (1947), "Fall Guy" (1947), "Exposed" (1947), "The Fugitive" (1947), "Return Of The Bad Men" (1948), "The Paleface" (1948), "Salt Of The Earth" (1948), "The Lucky Stiff" (1949), "The Crime Doctor's Diary" (1949), "Streets Of San Francisco" (1949), "Mighty Joe Young" (1949), "Sons Of New Mexico" (1949), "Captain Chin" (1950), "Destination Big House" (1950), "The Pace That Thrills" (1952), "Las Vegas Shakedown" (1955), "Double Jeopardy" (1955), "The Peacemaker" (1956), "The Crooked Circle" (1957), "Girl With An Itch" (1958), and "Johnny Cool" (1963). Besides, playing the role of 'Sheriff Dan Walker' in the episode entitled "The Long Road Home," of the classic western television series, "Zane Grey Theatre," which originally aired on October 19, 1956, and which also starred Dick Powell, Ray Collins, and Ainslie Pryor, tells the story of Sam Gracie who returns to Texas from his law practice in Kansas. He is determined to bring an end to a feud involving his family to an end without the use of guns. His many other television credits include, "The Silver Theatre," "The Bigelow Theatre," "The First Hundred Years," (He played the role of 'Mr. Martin' in 19 episodes of the dramatic television series, from 1950 to 1952), "Armstrong Circle Theatre," "Lux Video Theatre," "Public Defender," "Schlitz Playhouse," "Waterfront," "Adventures Of The Falcon," "The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse," "Soldiers Of Fortune," "General Electric Theater," "Cheyenne," 'Damon Runyon Theater," "Strange Stories," "Studio 57," "Camera Three," "The 20th Century-Fox Hour," "Broken Arrow," "The Red Skelton Hour," "Crossroads," "Code 3," "The Adventures Of McGraw," 'Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre," "Man Without A Gun," "Strange Stories," "Dr. Christian," 'Climax," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "Man With A Camera," 'Trackdown," "Cimarron City," "26 Men," "State Trooper" (He played the role of 'Sheriff Andy Anderson' in 28 episodes of the dramatic television series, "State Trooper," from 1956 to 1959), "Wagon Train," "Colt .45," "The Deputy," "M Squad," "Riverboat," "Sugarfoot," "This Is Your Life," "The Alaskans," "Bronco," "Lock Up," "Lawman," 'Laramie," "The Barbara Stanwyck Show," "Tales Of Wells Fargo," "Rawhide," "Lassie," Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "77 Sunset Strip," "Redigo," and "Perry Mason" (He made four guest appearances on the crime mystery television series drama, "Perry Mason," during its nine-year run on CBS, in 1958 he played as 'Walter Haskell' in "The Case Of The Sardonic Sergeant," in 1961 he played the title character and murder victim 'Captain Bancroft' in "The Case Of The Malicious Mariner," in 1962 he played defendant 'Jimmy West' in "The Case Of The Playboy Pugilist," and in 1964 he played murderer 'Phil Jenks' in "The Case Of The Accosted Accountant," thus becoming one of only eleven actors to hit the "Perry Mason," trifecta, playing victim, defendant and murderer). His last film role was playing 'Norman Armstrong - Cronin's Business Associate' in the comedy film, "For Those Who Think Young" (1964). The film which was directed by Leslie H. Martinson, which was written for the screen by James O'Hanlon, George O'Hanlon, and Dan Beaumont, and which also starred James Darren, Pamela Tiffin, and Paul Lynde, tells the story of a wealthy young man who tries to woo a university student, while her two uncles work to popularize a local club. He retired from acting shortly thereafter. During his acting career he also used the name Bob Armstrong. He passed away following a short battle with cancer at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, on April 20, 1973, at the age of 83. His funeral service was a private event and he was buried in Westwood Memorial Park in Westwood, California. He was married four times, first to the actress Peggy Fox Allenby Armstrong (1901-1966), from August 1920 until they divorced on April 17, 1925, second to the actress Jane Kent "Jeanne" Smith Armstrong (1903-1950), from June 12 1926, until they divorced on July 27, 1931, third to the actress Gladys Louise DuBois Armstrong (1907-1971), from January 10, 1936, until they divorced on December 31, 1939, and fourth to Claire Louise "Louise" Frisbie Armstrong (1892-1990), from January 1, 1940, until his death on April 20, 1973. He had no children. His uncle was the playwright and producer Paul Armstrong (1869–1915), who is best remembered for, "Alias Jimmy Valentine," "The Deep Purple," "The Greyhound, and the vaudeville sketch, "Woman Proposes, which he hired his nephew to direct, stage manage and appear in. On an interesting, he passed away one day before film producer Merian C. Cooper (1893-1973), with whom he worked on the films, "The Most Dangerous Game" (1932), "King Kong" (1933), "Blind Adventure" (1933), "Son Of Kong" (1933), "The Fugitive" (1947), and "Mighty Joe Young" (1949). He also wrote the book, ""A Sci-Fi Swarm And Horror Horde," in which talks bout his good friend the actor Jimmy Lydon (1923-2022). He and wife Louise became "adopted" parental figures to young actor Jimmy Lydon. He was 'best man' at Jimmy Lydon's 1952 wedding and godfather to his oldest daughter. After his death, Jimmy Lydon became Louise's guardian for 18 years until her death at the age of 97. His good friend and actor Jimmy Lydon passed away in San Diego, California, on March 9, 2022, at the age of 98.
Bio by: The Silent Forgotten
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