Robert Clarke

Robert Irby Clarke (June 1, 1920 – June 11, 2005) was an American actor best known for his cult classic science fiction films of the 1950s. In succeeding decades he appeared in more conventional television, and in The King Family Show, a variety show based on the family of which his wife Alyce King Clarke was a member.

Clarke was born and raised in 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.[citation needed ]

After screen tests at 20th Century-Fox and Columbia Pictures, Clarke landed a berth as a contract player at RKO Radio Pictures. His first credited role was The Falcon in Hollywood (1944), then went on to play small roles in The Body Snatcher (1945), Bedlam (1946), and Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947). When RKO dropped his option three years later, he began freelancing. In the 1950s, in addition to acting in genre films of all types, he is known for having appeared in several classic science fiction films, including The Man from Planet X (1951), The Incredible Petrified World (1957), The Astounding She-Monster (1957), From the Earth to the Moon (1958, narrator), Beyond the Time Barrier (1960), and The Hideous Sun Demon (1958), which Clarke wrote, directed and produced. He also appeared in the cult film Captain John Smith and Pocahontas (1953) as John Rolfe,

Clarke revealed in his 1996 autobiography To 'B' or Not to 'B' (co-written by Tom Weaver) 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, and with Clarke's permission, was re-dubbed into the 1983 comedy What's Up, Hideous Sun Demon (aka Revenge of the Sun Demon) featuring the voices of Jay Leno and Cam Clarke reprising his father's role. He later appeared in Alienator in 1990, Midnight Movie Massacre in 1988 and Frankenstein Island in 1981.

From the 1950s through the 1980s, he regularly appeared on television series, including appearing on The King Family Show (1965), and he sang on their tie-in albums. He made two guest appearances on Perry Mason, including the role of circus co-owner and murderer Jerry Franklin in the 1960 episode, "The Case of the Clumsy Clown" and as Jack Harper in the 1957 episode "The Case of the Crooked Candle". Other television appearances included The Lone Ranger, The Cisco Kid, Men Into Space, The Man and the Challenge, Hawaiian Eye, 77 Sunset Strip, Wendy and Me, General Hospital, Marcus Welby, M.D., Dragnet, Adam-12, Sea Hunt, Ripcord, Sky King, Checkmate, M Squad, Daktari, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Hawaii Five-O, Tabitha, Trapper John, M.D., Fantasy Island, Dallas, Simon & Simon, Knight Rider, Murder She Wrote, Matt Houston, Hotel, Dynasty, Falcon Crest, and dozens of others. The 1997 biographical documentary Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula featured narration which he provided. Clarke's last appearance was in the movie The Naked Monster, a send-up of the classic science fiction films of the 1950s, in 2005.

In the mid-1960s, he served as spokesperson for a furniture and appliance store chain called Gold's Giant Stores. His autobiography, To "B" or Not to "B": A Film Actor's Odyssey, was published in 1996. In the late it's Clarke co-wrote "The Hideous She Demon" with Michael Goodell, published in Graphic Novella format for EMGEE Comics, and completed as a Screenplay/Shooting Script for EMGEE Studios and Krashenburn Films.

Clarke married Alyce King in 1956. They remained wed until her death in 1996. He was the father of actor and voice artist Cam Clarke.

Clarke died June 11, 2005, at his home in Valley Village, California from complications of diabetes. He was 85.