Bartlett Robinson

Bartlett Whitney Robinson (December 9, 1912 – March 26, 1986) was an American actor who performed on radio, the stage, in films, and on television for five decades. In 1943 he was the first actor of several performers who provided the voice of the title character on the radio version of Perry Mason. Later, as a character actor in films and on television, he was often cast in roles of authority figures, such as military officers, wealthy ranchers, corporate executives, doctors, and judges. Robinson appeared in 21 films from 1956 to 1973 and in over 110 television productions between 1949 and 1982. He was also credited as Bart Robinson.

Early life, radio and stage
Bartlett Robinson was born in Manhattan, New York, on December 9, 1912. He began his career in entertainment in 1933 when he and his friends formed a performance group called the "Sunday Players," who later drove across country together to Los Angeles, California, in hopes of finding steady work. There Robinson subsequently got a job in the city at radio station KFI. For the remainder of the 1930s and into the 1940s, Robinson traveled back and forth between New York and Los Angeles to take parts in both stage and radio productions. Some of his roles in old-time radio programs included the following:

Robinson was cast in stage productions for two decades and appeared in plays with stars such as Henry Fonda and Lillian Gish. He would continue to be active in theater well into the 1950s. A few of his Broadway credits are Naughty Naught '00 (1936), Sweet River (1936), Dear Ruth (1944), The Girl in Pink Tights (1953), and The Prescott Proposals (1953).

Film and television career
By the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, Robinson began to focus his acting career on productions in the rapidly expanding medium of television and on film projects. On June 13, 1949, he appeared on television in "Light Up the Sky", an episode on the anthology series Ford Theatre. He made his film debut playing the part of a guest in the 1956 comedy The Birds and the Bees, which starred George Gobel, Mitzi Gaynor and David Niven. Earlier, he had appeared in other television episodes, including Ski Story on the Armstrong Circle Theatre, which aired 13 January 1953. Among others television series, he made guest appearances in seven episodes of Gunsmoke (1956 -1960). Robinson made guest appearances in eight episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1958 - 1962), six episodes of Perry Mason (1959 - 1966) and three episodes of The Twilight Zone (1961 - 1962). He played the role of Frank Caldwell in 26 episodes of Mona McCluskey (1965–1966) and appeared in many other episodes, predominantly in supporting roles. His last appearance on television was in the episode "Law" on the television series Lou Grant, which aired on April 12, 1982 playing Jacob Bauman, a character he had already portrayed on the series in a 1979 episode titled "Witness". His final credited motion picture role was that of Dr. Orva in Woody Allen's 1973 film Sleeper.

Personal life and death
Bartlett Robinson married Margaret Whitney Ballantine in 1938. The couple had two children and remained wedded for 33 years, until their divorce in 1971. They later remarried, a union that lasted until 1986 when he died of cancer at his home in Fallbrook, California, at age 73.

Films
• 1956: The Birds and the Bees (directed by Norman Taurog) .... Guest

• 1956: Toward the Unknown (directed by Mervyn LeRoy) .... Senator Black

• 1957: Battle Hymn (directed by Douglas Sirk) .... General Timberidge

• 1957: The Spirit of St. Louis (directed by Billy Wilder) .... Benjamin Frank Mahoney, President Ryan Airlines Company

• 1958: No Time for Sergeants (directed by Mervyn LeRoy) .... Captain

• 1958: Girl in the Woods (directed by Tom Gries) .... Doctor Wyndham

• 1958: I Want to Live! (directed by Robert Wise) .... District Attorney Milton

• 1959: A Stranger in My Arms (directed by Helmut Käutner) .... Colonel Bert Wayne

• 1959: Warlock (directed by Edward Dmytryk) .... Buck Slavin

• 1961: All Hands on Deck (directed by Norman Taurog) .... Lieutenant Commander Anthony

• 1964: A Distant Trumpet (directed by Raoul Walsh) .... Major Hiram Prescott

• 1964: Where Love Has Gone (directed by Edward Dmytryk) .... Mr. John Coleman

• 1965: Joy in the Morning (directed by Alex Segal) .... Professor Victor Newcole

• 1966: The Fortune Cookie (directed by Billy Wilder) .... Specialist #1

• 1966: Dawn of Victory (Short)

• 1968: Live a Little, Love a Little (directed by Norman Taurog) .... Doctor (uncredited)

• 1968: The Bamboo Saucer (directed by Frank Telford) .... Rhodes

• 1969: The Wrecking Crew (directed by Phil Karlson) .... Wellington (uncredited)

• 1969: Marlowe (directed by Paul Bogart) .... Wellington (uncredited)

• 1970: R. P. M. (directed by Stanley Kramer) .... 1st Professor at dining table (uncredited)

• 1973: Sleeper (directed by Woody Allen) .... Dr. Orva

Television
• 1949: Ford Television Theatre (one episode)

• 1953: Armstrong Circle Theater (one episode)

• 1953: Goodyear Television Playhouse (one episode)

• 1954: The Philco Television Playhouse (one episode)

• 1955: Medic (one episode) ... Dr. Hershon

• 1955-1956: Big Town (two episodes)

• 1956: Crusader (one episode) ... George Carlson

• 1956: Lux Video Theater (three episodes) ... John / Dr. Durette / Dr. Blaine

• 1957: Telephone Time (one episode)

• 1957: Meet McGraw (one episode) ... Ardmore

• 1957: Fireside Theatre (one episode)

• 1957-1958: Climax! (two episode)

• 1957 & 1958: Gunsmoke (“Cows & Cribs” - S3E13 as Emmett Bowers) & (“Joke’s On Us - S3E28 as Jake Kaiser)

• 1958: Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Season 3 Episode 24: "The Foghorn") as John St. Rogers

• 1958: Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Season 3 Episode 39: "Little White Frock") as Mr. Robinson

• 1958: Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Season 4 Episode 7: "Man with a Problem") as Hotel Manager

• 1958: Cheyenne (one episode) ... Colonel Ralph Donovan

• 1958: State Trooper (one episode) ... Vincent Marco

• 1958: Father Knows Best (one episode) ... Wes Coglan

• 1958: The Court of Last Resort (one episode) ... Rod Moore

• 1958: M Squad (one episode) ... Henry Hellstrom

• 1958: Tombstone Territory (one episode) ... Aaron McCafin

• 1958: The Walter Winchell File (one episode) ... Alex

• 1958: Bachelor Father (three episodes) ... Phil Corey

• 1958: The Restless Gun (one episode) ... George Mason

• 1958: Yancy Derringer (one episode) ... Stephen Quayne

• 1958: Peter Gunn (one episode) ... Stanley Glidden

• 1958: Steve Canyon one episode) ... Ambassador Grey

• 1956-1959: Playhouse 90 (three episodes) ... Captain Handley / Eloise's Lawyer

• 1957-1959 Whirlybirds (three episodes) ... Raymond / Dreyden / Alexander Ford

• 1958-1959: Richard Diamond, Private Detective (four episodes) ... Albert Gunther / Clifton / Paul Manners / Otto Carl

• 1958-1959: Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (three episodes) ... Judge / Mr. Gibbons

• 1958-1959: Zane Grey Theatre (episodes series) ... Charlie Coleman / Mayor Hartford / Timothy Owens / James Harder

• 1959: The Third Man (one episode) ... Ward Spender

• 1959: Lux Playhouse (one episode) ... Niles

• 1959: Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (one episode) ... Dean Henderson

• 1959: The Rifleman (one episode) ... Samuel Britton

• 1959: Johnny Ringo (one episode) ... Trask

• 1959: Men into Space (one episode) ... General Robert Hicks

• 1959: Startime (one episode) ... Elliott

• 1959: Hennesey (one episode) ... Commander Jenkins

• 1956-1960: Gunsmoke (seven episodes) ... J. L. Krocker / Bowers / Jake Wirth / Lee Sprague / Jake Kaiser / Bowers / Jim Gabriel

• 1960: Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Season 5 Episode 29: "The Hero") as Henry Caldwell

• 1960: Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Season 6 Episode 10: "Sybilla") as Lawyer

• 1960: Markham (one episode) ... Douglas Nicholson

• 1960: Fury (one episode) ... Fred Hughes

• 1960: Mr. Lucky (one episode) ... Joe Hardiman

• 1960: Bronco (one episode) ... L.G. Murphy

• 1960: Overland Trail (one episode) ... Major Evans

• 1960: Riverboat (2 episodes) ... Grimes / George Channing

• 1960: Hawaiian Eye (one episode) ... Ellis P. Adams

• 1960: Leave It to Beaver (1 episode) ... Mr. Compton

• 1957-1961: Maverick (2 episodes series) ... Captain Ranson / Longhurst

• 1959-1961: The Untouchables (three episodes) ... Federal Judge James H. Wilkerson / Mayor Marcus Stone / Judge

• 1959-1961: The Lawless Years (2 episodes) ... District Attorney / Clay Mason

• 1961: Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Season 6 Episode 34: "Servant Problem") as George Colton

• 1961: Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Season 6 Episode 36: "Final Arrangements") as Dr. Maxwell

• 1961: The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (one episode) ... Paul Scott

• 1961: The Case of the Dangerous Robin (one episode)

• 1961: The Brothers Brannagan (one episode) ... Carstairs

• 1961: Thriller (one episode) ... Art Critic

• 1961: The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (one episode) ... Colonel

• 1961: Whispering Smith (one episode) ... Ralph Miller

• 1961: Follow the Sun (one episode) ... Bunker

• 1958-1962: 77 Sunset Strip (2 episodes) ... Dean Hartley / Howard Stacey

• 1960-1962: Outlaws (2 episodes) ... Russell / Minister

• 1960-1962: Leave It to Beaver (2 episodes) ... Mr. Hill / George Compton

• 1961-1962: The Twilight Zone (2 episodes) ... Colonel #1 / William

• 1962: Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Season 7 Episode 14: "Bad Actor") as Donald Wellman

• 1962: Cain's Hundred (one episode) ... Foster Fallon

• 1962: The New Breed (3 episodes) ... Farnum / Victor Kredenza

• 1962: Stoney Burke (one episode) ... Everett B. Fields

• 1962: The Dick Powell Show (one episode) ... Tebbets

• 1962: My Three Sons (one episode) ... Milton Gibson

• 1959-1963: Laramie (9 episodes) ... Werner / Munson / Jim, the Telegrapher / Sheriff

• 1962-1963: Alcoa Premiere (2 episodes) ... Harkness / Doctor

• 1963: The Dakotas (one episode) ... Judge Elias Stone

• 1963 The Eleventh Hour (one episode) ... Dr. Warren

• 1964: Kraft Suspense Theatre (one episode) ... Prosecutor

• 1964: Ready for the People (made-for-television movie) ... John T. McGrane

• 1964: My Living Doll (one episode) ... Howard Vines

• 1964: The Andy Griffith Show (one episode) ... Mr. Roberts

• 1964: The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (Season 2 Episode 16: "The Evil of Adelaide Winters") as Mr. Thompson

• 1964: The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (Season 2 Episode 25: "The Ordeal of Mrs. Snow") as Harvey Crane

• 1964-1965: Wendy and Me (8 episodes) ... Willard Norton

• 1965: The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (Season 3 Episode 15: "Thanatos Palace Hotel") as Mr. J. Smith

• 1965: Slattery's People (one episode) ... Representative Jasper Bennett

• 1965: The Cara Williams Show (one episode) ... Watson

• 1965: The Munsters (one episode) ... Mr. Curtis

• 1965: OK Crackerby! (2 episodes) ... Mr. Holbrook

• 1965: Bewitched (one episode) ... Mr. Abercrombie

• 1965: The Smothers Brothers Show (one episode) ... MacFallen

• 1965: F Troop (one episode) ... Colonel Griswald

• 1965: My Mother the Car (one episode) ... Horace Congrieve

• 1965: Burke's Law (2 episodes) ... Robert Benbow / Gentleman

• 1959-1966: Perry Mason (6 episodes) ... Edward 'Pat' Patterson / Sydney Hardwick / Hudson Bradshaw / Emmett Pierson / Endicott Campbell / Marshall Scott

• 1965-1966: Mona McCluskey (26 episodes) ... Frank Caldwell

• 1966: The Wild Wild West (one episode) ... Senator Waterford

• 1966: Felony Squad (one episode) ... Peel

• 1967: Love on a Rooftop (one episode) ... Bradshaw

• 1967: Gilligan's Island (one episode) ... Hartley

• 1967: The Lucy Show (one episode) ... Mr. Wilkins

• 1967: Judd for the Defense (one episode) ... Arthur Kincaid

• 1967: Ironside (one episode) ... Attorney Whittier

• 1968: The Invaders (one episode) ... Art Llewellan

• 1968: Here's Lucy (one episode) ... C. B. Wellborn

• 1967–1969: The Guns of Will Sonnett (three episodes) ... Mayor of Samson / Banker / Sam Wilson

• 1967-1969: Petticoat Junction (2 episodes) ... Mayor Potts / Mort Morton

• 1969: Trial Run (TV Movie)

• 1969: Hawaii Five-O (2 episodes) ... Albert Woodson

• 1969: The Survivors (2 episodes) ... Enroy

• 1969: The Mod Squad (one episode) ... Minister

• 1959-1970: Bonanza (3 episodes) ... Howell / Willow / Ralph Carter

• 1967-1970: The Virginian (3 episodes) ... Doctor / Beaumont / Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

• 1968-1970: It Takes a Thief (2 episodes) ... Flight Surgeon / Colonel Prentice

• 1970: Green Acres (one episode) ... Mr. Robinson

• 1970: The Most Deadly Game (one episode) ... J.B. Wilson

• 1970: The Bill Cosby Show (one episode) ... 2nd Salesman

• 1969-1972: Mannix (3 episodes) ... Lawrence Riley / Alfred Price / Bradshaw

• 1974: Kung Fu (one episode) ... Max

• 1974: Lincoln (one episode) ... Bewhiskered Senator

• 1975: The Odd Couple (one episode) ... Minister

• 1971-1976: Cannon (2 episodes) ... Colonel Ritchie / Hayden

• 1978: The New Adventures of Heidi (TV Movie) ... Oscar the Butler

• 1979–1982: Lou Grant (three episodes) ... Jacob Bauman / Dutch Van Deusen / Bauman (final appearance)