Robert, a quiet and soft-spoken individual, grew up in California and began his stage experience at the renowned Pasadena Playhouse before transitioning to films in 1931. His cinematic career was marked by his portrayal of charming, good-looking, yet bland characters, often finding himself as the one who never got the girl. Despite being deemed "sexless" by Louis B. Mayer, Robert demonstrated a strong work ethic, preparing himself meticulously for every role he took on.
Throughout his career, Robert appeared in numerous films, with a staggering eleven releases per year for a decade starting with The Black Camel in 1931. One of his most notable roles was as a spy in Alfred Hitchcock's Secret Agent in 1936. The 1940s proved to be a pivotal decade for Robert, as he landed some of his most iconic roles, including Northwest Passage, Western Union, and H.M. Pulham, Esq.
The 1940s saw Robert continue to excel in his craft, with standout performances in Claudia, where he played the husband of Dorothy McGuire, and Crossfire, where he took on the role of a detective. However, as the years went by, his film appearances began to dwindle. In 1949, Robert ventured into radio, starring in the show "Father Knows Best" as Jim Anderson, an average father navigating everyday situations. This role was tailor-made for him, and he starred in the program for five years before it transitioned to television in 1954.
Despite a slight decline in ratings and a switch from CBS to NBC, "Father Knows Best" became a staple of television, running until its cancellation in 1960. Robert continued to make guest appearances on various TV shows and work on television movies. In 1969, he starred in the TV movie A Matter of Humanities, which led to the development of the popular series Marcus Welby, M.D.
The show, which ran from 1969 to 1976, featured James Brolin as his trusted assistant, Dr. Steven Kiley, and followed the life of a wise and compassionate doctor. After the series concluded, Robert, now in his seventies, finally overcame his 30-year battle with alcohol and continued to make sporadic appearances in television movies throughout the 1980s.
