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Photo of Robert Allen

Robert Allen

Actor
Born March 28, 1906Died October 9, 1998 (92 years)
Robert "Tex" Allen (also credited as Bob Allen) was a leading actor in both feature films and B-movie westerns between 1935 and 1944.

Born as Irvine E. Theodore Baehr on March 28, 1906 in Mount Vernon, New York, Allen went on to graduate from the New York Military Academy in 1924, where he rode in the academy cavalry and from Dartmouth College in 1929 with a degree in English. In vacations he had driven a truck as a labourer. He worked for a bank which soon failed in the Great Depression. He flew briefly with the Curtis Flying service as a commercial pilot. He first came to the screen in 1926 before signing a standard acting contract with Paramount Pictures, in 1929. He appeared in the famous Marx Brothers movie Animal Crackers and several other small parts. Then, he signed with Columbia Pictures in 1935. He also later contracted with 20th Century Fox.

Allen's first notable role was the male lead in Love Me Forever (1935), for which he won a Box Office Award. He gained additional notice as the star of When You're in Love (1936), opposite Grace Moore. The same year, he was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in the title role in the film The Life of Lafayette.

After the departure of cowboy star Ken Maynard, Allen was plugged into producer Larry Darmour's formulaic Ranger pictures. Along with sidekick Wally Wales (played by Hal Taliaferro), he redefined the role, starring in six films for director Spencer Gordon Bennet in that year alone. These films became known as the Bob Allen Ranger series. However, the studio was looking for a singing cowboy to compete with Gene Autry and Allen was eventually replaced by Roy Rogers. He appeared in two dozen films after that, however.

He had acted on Broadway in the original productions of Show Boat and Kiss Them for Me. In 1956 he appeared in the original production of Auntie Mame, opposite Rosalind Russell, and later Greer Garson. He appeared in other Broadway plays, in touring productions, in soap operas, documentaries and commercials. He became a real estate broker in 1964 but returned to the stage from time to time, including an appearance as J.B. Biggley in the 1972 Equity Library Theatre revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Robert (Tex) Allen, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Movies & Shows on Plex
  • Hells Angels on Wheels
  • Broadway Bill
Known For
  • The Awful Truth
  • The Black Room
  • Crime and Punishment
  • Raiders of the Living Dead
  • Craig's Wife
  • Big Business Girl
  • Party Husband

Filmography

1986
Raiders of the Living Dead · as Dr. Carstairs
1970
Dirtymouth · as Philadelphia Judge
1967
1966
Naked Evil · as Doctor - U.s. Version
1964
Terror in the City · as Brill's Father
1958
Naked City (TV Series) · as Chief Attorney (uncredited)
1954
Disneyland (TV Series) · as Cast
1954
Producers' Showcase (TV Series) · as Egyptian Man
1952
Omnibus (TV Series)
1951
Out There (TV Series) · as Cast
1951
Tales of Tomorrow (TV Series)
1950
The Pulitzer Prize Playhouse (TV Series) · as Cast
1950
The Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) · as Skipper
1950
The Web (1950) (TV Series) · as Cast
1950
The Armstrong Circle Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast
1949
Suspense (TV Series) · as Cast
1947
Kraft Television Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast
1945
Thrill of a Romance · as Member Of Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (uncredited)
1940
City of Chance · as Fred Walcott
1939
Winter Carnival · as Rocky Morgan
1939
Tail Spin · as Charlie
1939
Fighting Thoroughbreds · as Greg Bogart
1938
Kentucky · as Man Dancing With Sally (uncredited)
1938
Keep Smiling · as Stanley Harper
1938
Gateway · as Reporter
1938
The Big Broadcast of 1938 · as 2nd Gas Station Attendant
1937
The Awful Truth · as Frank Randall
1937
Let's Get Married · as Charles
1936
Craig's Wife · as Gene Fredericks
1936
Lady of Secrets · as Richard Terrance
1935
1935
The Black Room · as Lt. Albert Lussan
1935
Love Me Forever · as Phillip Cameron
1935
Air Hawks · as Bill Lewis
1935
Party Wire · as Roy Daniels
1935
The Revenge Rider · as Chad Harmon
1934
Broadway Bill · as Reporter
1934
Jealousy · as Jim Rainey
1934
Menace · as Andrew Forsythe
1934
The Captain Hates the Sea · as Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
1934
Girl in Danger · as Reporter (uncredited)
1934
Social Register · as Socialite (uncredited)
1933
Saturday's Millions · as Football Player
1931
The Reckless Hour · as Hal - Allen's Friend (uncredited)
1931
Night Nurse · as Party Guest (uncredited)
1931
Big Business Girl · as Graduate At Dance (uncredited)
1931
1930
Animal Crackers · as House Party Guest (uncredited)

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