Robert Clarke
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For the Saskatchewan politician see Rob Clarke.
Robert Irby Clarke (June 1, 1920 - June 11, 2005) was an actor best known for his cult classic sci-fi films of the 1950’s.
Robert Clarke grew up as a movie-loving kid in his native Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He decided at an early age that he wanted to be an actor, but nevertheless suffered from stage fright in his first school productions. He attended Kemper Military School and College, planning to make a career in the service, but dropped out after his asthma prevented his serving in World War II. He later attended the University of Oklahoma, where he acted in radio plays, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he appeared on stage. He did not graduate, but hitched a ride to California to try to break into the motion picture business.
After screen tests at 20th Century-Fox and Columbia Pictures, Clarke landed a berth as a contract player at RKO. His first credited role was The Falcon in Hollywood in 1944. When RKO dropped his option three years later, he began freelancing. In the 1950’s, he appeared in many classic sci-fi films, including The Man from Planet X (1951), The Incredible Petrified World, The Astounding She-Monster (1957), From the Earth to the Moon (1958), and The Hideous Sun Demon (1959), which Clarke wrote, directed and produced. Clarke wrote in his biography that he made The Hideous Sun Demon for less than $50,000, including $500 for the rubberized lizard suit he wore. He shot the movie over 12 weekends to get two days' use of rental camera equipment for one day's fee. The Hideous Sun Demon was featured in the 1982 movie It Came from Hollywood which starred Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Gilda Radner, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong.
From the 1950’s through the 1980’s, he regularly appeared on television series, including The Lone Ranger, The Cisco Kid, Dragnet, Perry Mason, Sea Hunt, Hawaiian Eye, 77 Sunset Strip, General Hospital, Marcus Welby, M.D., Adam-12, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Hawaii Five-O, Trapper John, M.D., Fantasy Island, Dallas, Simon & Simon, Knight Rider, Murder She Wrote, Matt Houston, Falcon Crest, Hotel, Dynasty, and dozens of others. Fittingly, Clarke's last appearance was in the movie The Naked Monster, a send-up of the classic sci-fi films of the 1950's, in 2005.
Clarke married Alyce King of the singing King Sisters in 1956 and, a decade later, began appearing on TV on The King Family Show (1965), but not for his musical prowess. On the program he appeared in comedy sketches and sentimental readings. He is the father of noted actor and voice artist Cam Clarke. His autobiography, To "B" or Not to "B": A Film Actor's Odyssey, was published in 1996. He died June 11, 2006 in Valley Village, California from complications of diabetes.
