Actor. His film career spanned the 1930s and 1940s, with the majority of his work occurring in the 1930s. In 1933, he began his career, under his real name at Universal Studios, working in serials such as "Phantom of the Air" starring Tom Tyler and "Gordon of Ghost City" starring Buck Jones. He was billed under the name Robert Allen in "The Perils of Pauline" (1933). In 1935 he signed on with Warner Brothers Studios, and he was seen as a rising star, playing second lead in several films, "Paris in Spring" (1935), "Treachery on the Range" (1936), "Stage Struck" (1936), "Smart Blonde" (1937), "Penrod and Sam" (1937), "Footloose Heiress" (1937), "Gold Mine in the Sky" (1938) and "The Mystery of Mr. Wong" (1939). After the US entry into World War II on December 7, 1941, he joined the US Marine Corps as an officer, serving in Greenland and then in the Pacific Theater. Following a leg injury at Guadalcanal, he received a Purple Heart and two Presidential citations before his discharge in 1944. He returned to acting, but his career stalled and appeared in mostly uncredited roles, with the exception of "Nevada" (1944), "Uncle Harry" (1945), "Divorce" (1945), and "Queen of Burlesque" (1946). He was married to actress Barbara Pepper. On October 17, 1949, he was riding a motor scooter and was involved in a collision with a motorcycle. He suffered a cerebral contusion and skull fracture and passed away on October 22, 1949, at French Hospital in Los Angeles.
Actor. His film career spanned the 1930s and 1940s, with the majority of his work occurring in the 1930s. In 1933, he began his career, under his real name at Universal Studios, working in serials such as "Phantom of the Air" starring Tom Tyler and "Gordon of Ghost City" starring Buck Jones. He was billed under the name Robert Allen in "The Perils of Pauline" (1933). In 1935 he signed on with Warner Brothers Studios, and he was seen as a rising star, playing second lead in several films, "Paris in Spring" (1935), "Treachery on the Range" (1936), "Stage Struck" (1936), "Smart Blonde" (1937), "Penrod and Sam" (1937), "Footloose Heiress" (1937), "Gold Mine in the Sky" (1938) and "The Mystery of Mr. Wong" (1939). After the US entry into World War II on December 7, 1941, he joined the US Marine Corps as an officer, serving in Greenland and then in the Pacific Theater. Following a leg injury at Guadalcanal, he received a Purple Heart and two Presidential citations before his discharge in 1944. He returned to acting, but his career stalled and appeared in mostly uncredited roles, with the exception of "Nevada" (1944), "Uncle Harry" (1945), "Divorce" (1945), and "Queen of Burlesque" (1946). He was married to actress Barbara Pepper. On October 17, 1949, he was riding a motor scooter and was involved in a collision with a motorcycle. He suffered a cerebral contusion and skull fracture and passed away on October 22, 1949, at French Hospital in Los Angeles.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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