What's After the Movie
Robert Armstrong
Robert Armstrong was a prolific American actor whose career spanned the silent era through the golden age of Hollywood and into early television. Born on November 20, 1890 in Saginaw, Michigan, he spent his early childhood in Bay City before his family moved to Seattle, where he attended the University of Washington and studied law while joining the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. His break into performance came on stage in 1919 with the production “Boys Will Be Boys, launching a film career that would include over 120 screen credits between 1927 and 1964. Armstrong is best remembered for his charismatic portrayal of daring filmmaker Carl Denham in the iconic 1933 RKO picture King Kong, delivering the film’s legendary closing line, “It wasn’t the airplanes. It was beauty killed the beast.” He reprised the role in the sequel Son of Kong the same year, cementing his association with adventure cinema and with producer‑director Merian C. Cooper, who often cast him in roles that echoed Cooper’s own larger‑than‑life persona. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s he worked for numerous studios, appearing in genre classics such as The Most Dangerous Game, Mighty Joe Young and wartime thrillers like Enemy Agent. In the 1950s Armstrong transitioned to television, becoming a familiar face as Sheriff Andy Anderson on the western series State Trooper and making multiple guest appearances on Perry Mason. His personal life included four marriages—to Peggy Allenby, Ethel Virah Smith, Gladys Dubois, and finally Claire Louise Frisbie Armstrong—though no children are recorded. Armstrong died of cancer on April 20, 1973 in Santa Monica, California, just sixteen hours after his longtime collaborator Merian C. Cooper, and was interred at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Robert Armstrong, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Robert Armstrong rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: Robert William Armstrong
Born: Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.
Citizenship: American
Birthday: November 20, 1890
Occupations: Actor
Years Active: 1919-1966
Spouses: Peggy Allenby, Ethel Virah Smith, Gladys Dubois, Claire Louise Frisbie Armstrong
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Movies Featuring Robert Armstrong
King Kong
The Son of Kong
The Confessions of Robert Crumb
Fast Workers
Gang Busters
The Peacemaker
The Racketeer
Dive Bomber
Action in Arabia
The Tip-Off
Blind Adventure
Around the World
A Girl in Every Port
Double Jeopardy
It Happened in Flatbush
The Mystery Man
Be Yourself!
Paid
Behind the News
Criminal Court
The Falcon in San Francisco
Las Vegas Shakedown
Baby Face Morgan
Belle of the Yukon
For Those Who Think Young
The Most Dangerous Game
The Mad Ghoul
The Sea of Grass
The Navy Way
The Kansan
Public Enemy’s Wife
The Penguin Pool Murder
Sweet Music
Gang Busters
The Girl Said No
Fall Guy
The Crooked Circle
Let’s Get Tough
The Lucky Stiff
Service with the Colors
Radio Patrol
Kansas City Princess
The Roaring Twenties
Big News
Girl with an Itch
Decoy
Palooka
My Favorite Spy
There Goes My Heart
‘G’ Men
Meet the Fleet
The Lost Squadron
Blood on the Sun
Exposed
Man of Conquest
Iron Man
Danger Lights
Suicide Fleet
Johnny Cool
Return of the Bad Men
Hold ’Em Jail
The Leatherneck
The Crime Doctor’s Diary
Things You Never See on the Screen
The Fugitive
All American Chump
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
The Paleface
Mr. Winkle Goes to War
Pirate Party on Catalina Isle
Winter Carnival
Search for Beauty
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Robert Armstrong, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
1947
The Sea of Grass
Floyd McCurtin
Fall Guy
Mac McLaine
Exposed
Insp. Prentice
The Fugitive
Police sergeant
1944
Action in Arabia
Matthew Reed
Belle of the Yukon
George
The Navy Way
CPO Harper
Mr. Winkle Goes to War
Joe Tinker
1942
It Happened in Flatbush
Danny Mitchell
Baby Face Morgan
'Doc' Rogers
Gang Busters
Det. Tim Nolan
Let’s Get Tough
Pop Stevens
My Favorite Spy
Harry Robinson
1940
Behind the News
Vic Archer
Service with the Colors
Sergeant Clicker
Meet the Fleet
CPO Bill Jennings
1939
The Roaring Twenties
Hatted Passerby Before Nightclub (uncredited)
Man of Conquest
Jim Bowie
Winter Carnival
Tiger Reynolds
1936
Public Enemy’s Wife
Gene Ferguson
All American Chump
Bill Hogan
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
Nick Martel, Bookie
1935
The Mystery Man
Larry Doyle
Sweet Music
Dopey Malone
‘G’ Men
Jeff McCord
Things You Never See on the Screen
Self
Pirate Party on Catalina Isle
Performer
1934
Kansas City Princess
Dynamite 'Dynie' Carson
Palooka
Pete Palooka
Search for Beauty
Larry Williams
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