Robert Webber

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Robert Webber
Robert-webber-trailer.jpg
Robert Webber in The Silencers trailer (1966)
Born
Robert Laman Webber[1]

(1924-10-14)October 14, 1924
DiedMay 19, 1989(1989-05-19) (aged 64)
OccupationActor
Years active1950–1989
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service/branchFlag of the United States Marine Corps.svg United States Marine Corps
Years of service1943–1945
RankUSMC-E2 (Service).svg Private first class
Unit6th MarDiv.png 6th Marine Division
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsCombat Action Ribbon.svg Navy Combat Action Ribbon
United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg Navy Presidential Unit Citation
American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon.svg Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg World War II Victory Medal

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

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[citation needed] and Robert Webber, who was a merchant seaman.[2] He graduated from Oakland Technical High School. Webber enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1943 during World War II, serving in the 1st Marine Amphibious Corps and later in the 6th Marine Division as a 776-Radio Operator (Low Speed)[3] in Guam and Okinawa.[2][4] Webber was discharged in 1945 as a private first class and was awarded the Navy Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy Presidential Unit Citation, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.[3]

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”.

Death[]

Webber 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. ^ Jump up to: a b Robert Webber, Actor, Dies at 64. Bourdain, C.S. The New York Times via Internet Archive. Published 20 May 1989.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Webber, Robert L, PFC. togetherweserved.com. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ Hubbard, Linda S.; Steen, Sara; O'Donnell, Owen (September 15, 1989). Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. Gale. ISBN 978-0810320703.

External links[]

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