Robert Webber

Robert Laman Webber (October 14, 1924 – May 19, 1989) was an American actor.

For other people named Robert Webber, see Robert Webber (disambiguation).
Robert Webber
Robert Webber in The Silencers trailer (1966)
Born
Robert Laman Webber[1]

(1924-10-14)October 14, 1924
Santa Ana, California, U.S.
DiedMay 19, 1989(1989-05-19) (aged 64)
Malibu, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1950–1989
Spouse(s)Miranda "Sammy" Jones (1953–1958; divorced)
Del Mertens (1972–1989; his death)

He appeared in dozens of films and television series, roles that included Juror No. 12 in the classic 1957 film 12 Angry Men.

Early life

Webber was born in Santa Ana, California, the son of Alice and Robert Webber, who was a merchant seaman.[2] Webber graduated from Oakland Technical High School. He served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, serving on Guam and Okinawa.[3][4]

Career

Webber had a 40-year career as a character actor, during which he appeared as Juror No. 12 in 12 Angry Men (1957), as Dudley Moore's gay lyricist in 10 (1979), and the father of Cybill Shepherd's character in the hit series Moonlighting.

Other notable turns were in the movies The Sandpiper, in which he played a supporting role as Elizabeth Taylor's character's former lover; The Nun and the Sergeant, in which he played the lead; The Dirty Dozen, where he played a general who disliked the character portrayed by Lee Marvin; a sadistic lowlife encountered by Paul Newman in the anti-hero detective drama Harper; a hitman in Sam Peckinpah's Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia; and a killer in the Dean Martin spy spoof The Silencers. Other notable movies include The Great White Hope (1970), Midway (1976), Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978), Private Benjamin (1980), S.O.B. (1981), and Wild Geese II (1985). Several of the movies were directed by Blake Edwards.

On television, Webber appeared in many of the popular dramas of the time, including four episodes of The Rockford Files and three of Cannon. Webber also appeared in Barnaby Jones in the episode titled “Final Judgment”.

Personal life and death

Webber was married to actress and model Miranda "Sammy" Jones on October 1, 1953, and was divorced in July 1958. He married his second wife, Del Mertens, on April 23, 1972.

He died from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) at age 64 in Malibu, California.[5]

Filmography

Film

Television and radio

References
  1. Wilson, Scott (August 19, 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons (3rd ed.). McFarland. p. 795. ISBN 978-1476625997.
  2. "Robert Webber Biography (1924–1989)". FilmReference.com.
  3. "Oakland's Tech High is a Rags to Riches Saga". Oakland Tribune. School Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  4. Bourdain, C.S. (20 May 1989). "Robert Webber, Actor, Dies at 64". The New York Times.
  5. Hubbard, Linda S.; Steen, Sara; O'Donnell, Owen (September 15, 1989). Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. Gale. ISBN 978-0810320703.

6. Demetria Fulton previewed Webber in Barnaby Jones; episode titled “Final Judgement”(01/26/1978).

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