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Robert J. Wilke

May 18, 1914 - Mar 28, 1989 (74 years old) in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Prolific American character actor of primarily villainous roles. The son of German parents, Cincinnati feed-store manager August Wilke and his wife Rose, Robert Joseph Wilke grew up in Cincinnati. He worked as a lifeguard at a Miami, Florida, hotel, where he made contacts in the film business. He was able to obtain work as a stuntman and continued as such until the mid-'40s, when he began getting actual roles in low-budget westerns and serials. A prominent appearance as one of the heavies in Le train sifflera trois fois (1952) led to work in higher-quality films. He worked extensively in television as well as movies, and became an enormously familiar face, though a fairly anonymous one to the general public. His weathered visage made him a perfect western bad guy, but he occasionally played sympathetic parts as well, as in Les moissons du ciel (1978). An expert golfer, he was said by his friend Claude Akins to have earned more money on the golf course than he ever did in movies. He died in 1989. -

Known For

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Lassie
Mr. Corey
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My Three Sons
Danny Donnigan
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Dallas
Tom Owens
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Have Gun, Will Travel
Will Tybee
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The Lone Ranger
Henchman (uncredited)
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Wagon Train
Sgt. Wick
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Perry Mason
Deputy Sheriff Connors
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Bonanza
Charlie Sheppard
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The Lucy Show
Tom Carter
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The Untouchables
George 'Bugs' Moran

Credits