Editing Cliff Robertson

{{Short description|American actor (1923–2011)}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Cliff Robertson
| image              = Cliffrobertson (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Robertson in 1981
| birth_name         = Clifford Parker Robertson III
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1923|09|09}}
| birth_place        = [[San Diego]], [[California]], U.S.
| death_date         = {{death date and age|2011|09|10|1923|06|21}}
| death_place        = [[Stony Brook, New York]], U.S.
| resting_place      = Cedar Lawn Cemetery, East Hampton, New York, U.S.
| occupation         = Actor
| education          = [[La Jolla High School]]
| alma_mater         = [[Antioch College]]
| years_active       = 1943–2007
| party              = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse             = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Cynthia Stone]] |1957|1959|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|[[Dina Merrill]] |1966|1989|end=divorced}}
}}
| children           = 2
| website            = 
}}

'''Clifford Parker Robertson III''' (September 9, 1923 – September 10, 2011) was an American actor whose career in film and television spanned over six decades. Robertson portrayed a young [[John F. Kennedy]] in the 1963 film ''[[PT 109 (film)|PT 109]]'', and won the 1968 [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] for his role in the film ''[[Charly (1968 film)|Charly]]''.

On television, Robertson portrayed retired astronaut [[Buzz Aldrin]] in the [[Return to Earth (film)|1976 TV film adaptation]] of Aldrin's autobiographic ''Return to Earth'', played a fictional character based on [[Director of Central Intelligence]] [[Richard Helms]] in the 1977 miniseries ''[[Washington: Behind Closed Doors]]'', and portrayed [[Henry Ford]] in ''[[Ford: The Man and the Machine]]'' (1987). His last well-known film appearances were as [[Uncle Ben]] in the 2002–2007 [[Spider-Man in film|''Spider-Man'' film trilogy]].

Robertson was an accomplished aviator who served as the founding chairman of the [[Experimental Aircraft Association]] (EAA)'s [[Young Eagles|Young Eagles Program]] at its inception in the early 1990s. It became the most successful aviation youth advocacy program in history.

==Early life and education==
Robertson was born in [[La Jolla]], [[California]],<ref name="Times Obit" /><ref name="Birth Index">[http://www.familytreelegends.com/records/39461?c=search&first=clifford%20parker&last=robertson California Births, 1905–1995] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115142336/http://www.familytreelegends.com/records/39461?c=search&first=clifford%20parker&last=robertson |date=November 15, 2011}} ''Familytreelegends.com''</ref> the son of Clifford Parker Robertson Jr. (1902–1968) and his first wife, Audrey Olga Robertson (''[[née]]'' Willingham; 1903–1925).{{efn|Several obituaries have stated that Robertson was adopted by his parents. However, the California Birth Index of 1905–1995 states that Clifford P. Robertson was born to a mother whose maiden name was Willingham, in [[Los Angeles County]], California, on September 9, 1923. He was adopted by his maternal grandmother upon his mother's death.<ref name=Mag />}}<ref>Mother's birth and death information per records accessed on ancestry.com on September 12, 2011</ref>  His [[Texas]]-born father was described as "the idle heir to a tidy sum of ranching money".<ref>Father's birthplace accessed on ancestry.com on September 12, 2011</ref> Robertson once said, "[My father] was a very romantic figure – tall, handsome. He married four or five times, and between marriages he'd pop in to see me. He was a great raconteur, and he was always surrounded by sycophants who let him pick up the tab. During the Great Depression, he tapped the trust for $500,000, and six months later he was back for more."<ref name=Mag>{{cite web|last=Green|first=Michelle|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20086490,00.html|title=Cliff Robertson profile at|work=People|date=December 5, 1983|access-date=November 25, 2011|archive-date=March 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311114913/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20086490,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Robertson's parents divorced when he was one, and his mother died of [[peritonitis]] a year later in [[El Paso, Texas]], at the age of 21.<ref name="Times Obit">{{cite news|last=Keepnews|first=Peter|title=Cliff Robertson, Oscar-Winning Rebel, Dies at 88|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/movies/cliff-robertson-oscar-winning-rebel-dies-at-88.html|access-date=September 11, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 11, 2011|archive-date=September 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911194131/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/movies/cliff-robertson-oscar-winning-rebel-dies-at-88.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Mag/><ref>Mother's death information per records accessed on ancestry.com on September 12, 2011</ref> He was raised by his maternal grandmother, Mary Eleanor "Eleanora" Willingham (''née'' Sawyer, 1875–1957), in [[California]], and rarely saw his father.<ref name="Times Obit"/><ref name=Mag/><ref>Grandmother's name and dates accessed on ancestry.com on September 12, 2011</ref> He graduated in 1941 from [[La Jolla High School]], where he was known as "The Walking Phoenix".<ref name="Walk of Fame">{{cite web|title=Cliff Robertson/Hollywood Walk of Fame|url=http://www.walkoffame.com/cliff-robertson|publisher=Hollywood Chamber of Commerce|access-date=September 11, 2011|archive-date=December 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201145920/http://www.walkoffame.com/cliff-robertson|url-status=live}}</ref>

He served as a [[third mate]] in the [[United States Merchant Marine|U.S. Merchant Marine]] during [[World War II]],<ref name="Times Obit"/><ref>[https://digitalarchive.pacificwarmuseum.org/digital/collection/p16769coll1/id/2292/ The National Museum of the Pacific War: Center for Pacific War Studies - Interview with Mr. Cliff Robertson. December 7, 2001.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417202130/https://digitalarchive.pacificwarmuseum.org/digital/collection/p16769coll1/id/2292/|date=April 17, 2021}} [[National Museum of the Pacific War]]. Retrieved April 16, 2021.</ref> before attending [[Antioch College]] in [[Yellow Springs, Ohio]], and dropping out to work for a short time as a journalist.<ref name="yahoo">[https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800029948/bio Cliff Robertson biodata] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522092317/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800029948/bio |date=May 22, 2011 }}, yahoo.com; accessed April 26, 2015.</ref>

==Career==
Robertson studied at the [[Actors Studio]], becoming a life member.<ref>{{cite book|first=David |last=Garfield|title=A Player's Place: The Story of The Actors Studio|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/playersplacestor00garf|chapter-url-access=registration|year=1980|publisher=MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc.|location=New York|isbn=0-02-542650-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/playersplacestor00garf/page/278 278]|chapter=Appendix: Life Members of The Actors Studio as of January 1980}}</ref>  In the early 1950s he worked steadily in television, including a stint as the lead of ''[[Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers]]'' (1953–1954). He appeared in Broadway in ''Late Love'' (1953–1954) and ''The Wisteria Trees'' (1955), the latter written by [[Joshua Logan]].

===Columbia===
Robertson made his film debut in ''[[Picnic (1955 film)|Picnic]]'' (1955), directed by Logan. Robertson played the role of [[William Holden]]'s best friend – a part originated on stage by [[Paul Newman]]. Newman was under contract to Warner Bros. when the film was being made and was then considered too big a star to reprise his stage performance. Logan's wife recommended Robertson after seeing him in a revival of ''The Wisteria Trees'', and the director remembered him from a Chicago production of ''Mister Roberts''.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/00josh/page/5/mode/1up?q=picnic+|first=Joshua|last=Logan|year=1978|pages=7–8|title=Movie stars, real people and me|publisher=Bantam Doubleday Dell |isbn=9780440062585 }}</ref>

The film was a box office success and Robertson was promoted to [[Joan Crawford]]'s co-star in ''[[Autumn Leaves (film)|Autumn Leaves]]'' (1956), also at [[Columbia Pictures]], playing her mentally unstable younger lover. This meant he had to pass up the chance to replace [[Ben Gazzara]] on Broadway in ''[[Cat on a Hot Tin Roof]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Schallert, E.|title=Cliff Robertson wins plum Crawford lead; Lance Fuller starred.|date=August 18, 1955|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|166816412}}}}</ref> However he did return to Broadway to appear in ''[[Orpheus Descending]]'' by [[Tennessee Williams]], which only had a short run.

[[File:Jane-powell-cliff-robertson-girl-most-likely-1958-.jpg|thumb|right|Robertson, [[Jane Powell]], and [[Keith Andes]] in the 1958 film, ''[[The Girl Most Likely]]'']]
Robertson went to [[RKO Pictures|RKO]] to make two films: ''[[The Naked and the Dead (film)|The Naked and the Dead]]'' (1958), an adaptation of the famous novel, co-starring [[Aldo Ray]]; and ''[[The Girl Most Likely]]'' (1958), a musical – the last film made by RKO Studios.  Robertson received superb reviews for ''[[Days of Wine and Roses (Playhouse 90)|Days of Wine and Roses]]'' on TV with [[Piper Laurie]].

He was in Columbia's ''[[Gidget (film)|Gidget]]'' (1959), appearing opposite [[Sandra Dee]] as the Big [[Kahuna]]. It was popular and led to two sequels, neither of which Robertson appeared in. Less successful was a war film at Columbia, ''[[Battle of the Coral Sea (film)|Battle of the Coral Sea]]'' (1959).

In 1961, he was the third lead in Paramount's ''[[All in a Night's Work (film)|All in a Night's Work]]'', starred in [[Samuel Fuller]]'s ''[[Underworld U.S.A.]]'' at Columbia, and supported [[Esther Williams]] in ''[[The Big Show (1961 film)|The Big Show]]''. He had his first film hit since ''Gidget'' with Columbia's ''[[The Interns (film)|The Interns]]'' (1962). After supporting [[Debbie Reynolds]] in ''[[My Six Loves]]'' (1963), Robertson was President [[John F. Kennedy]]'s personal choice to play him in 1963's ''[[PT 109 (film)|PT 109]]''.<ref>{{cite news |author=Hoberman, J. |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0335,hoberman,46558,1.html |title=Lights, Camera, Exploitation |work=Village Voice |date=August 26, 2003 |access-date=November 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630070747/http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0335%2Choberman%2C46558%2C1.html |archive-date=June 30, 2008 }}</ref> The film was not a success at the box office.

More popular was ''[[Sunday in New York]]'' (1963), where Robertson supported [[Rod Taylor]] and [[Jane Fonda]], and ''[[The Best Man (1964 film)|The Best Man]]'' where he was a ruthless presidential candidate.

Robertson appeared in a popular war film ''[[633 Squadron]]'' (1964) then supported [[Lana Turner]] in a melodrama, ''[[Love Has Many Faces]]'' (1965). In 1965 he said his contract with Columbia was for one film a year.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Hopper, H.|title=Cliff Robertson: Career that's flying high.|date=August 8, 1965|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|155264948}}}}</ref>

===''Charly''===
In 1961 Robertson played the lead role in a ''[[The United States Steel Hour|United States Steel Hour]]'' television production titled "[[Flowers for Algernon#Adaptations|The Two Worlds of Charlie Gordon]]", based on the novel ''[[Flowers for Algernon]]'' by [[Daniel Keyes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DfrzQ2Z8vY|title=U.S. Steel Hour: "The Two Worlds of Charlie Gordon" (2/22/1961)|date=18 April 2018 |publisher=YouTube|access-date=November 16, 2019|archive-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116161213/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DfrzQ2Z8vY|url-status=live}}</ref> Frustrated at the progress of his career, Robertson optioned the rights to the teleplay and hired [[William Goldman]] to write a script. Before Goldman completed his work, Robertson arranged for Goldman to be hired to Americanize the dialogue for ''[[Masquerade (1965 film)|Masquerade]]'' (1965), a spy spoof which Robertson starred in, replacing [[Rex Harrison]]. 

Robertson then made a war film, ''[[Up from the Beach]]'' (1965) for Fox and guest-starred on that studio's TV show, ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' (1966). He co-starred with Harrison in ''[[The Honey Pot]]'' (1967) for [[Joseph L. Mankiewicz]] then appeared in another war film, ''[[The Devil's Brigade (film)|The Devil's Brigade]]'' (1968) with [[William Holden]].

Robertson disliked Goldman's ''Algernon'' script and replaced the writer with [[Stirling Silliphant]] for what became ''[[Charly (1968 film)|Charly]]'' (1968). The film was another box office success and Robertson won the [[Academy Award for Best Actor#1960s|1968 Academy Award for Best Actor]] for his portrayal of a mentally-challenged man.

===Stardom===
''Charly'' was made by ABC Pictures, which insisted that [[Robert Aldrich]] use Robertson in ''[[Too Late the Hero (film)|Too Late the Hero]]'' (1970), a war film with [[Michael Caine]] that was a disappointment at the box office.

Robertson turned down roles in ''[[The Anderson Tapes]]'', ''[[Straw Dogs (1971 film)|Straw Dogs]]'' (before Peckinpah was involved), and ''[[Dirty Harry]]''.<ref name="coop"/> Instead Robertson co-wrote, starred in, and directed ''[[J. W. Coop]]'' (1972), another commercial disappointment despite excellent reviews.

[[File:Lynn Garrison SV4.C Stampe painted for Cliff Robertson film project, Weston, Ireland, 1969.jpg|thumb|[[Lynn Garrison]]'s [[Stampe-Vertongen SV.4]] painted for a Robertson film project, Weston, Ireland, 1969]]

Looking back on his career, Robertson said: "nobody made more mediocre movies than I did. Nobody ever did such a wide variety of mediocrity".<ref name="coop">{{cite news|author=A. H.|date=July 16, 1972|title=Cliff Robertson flies the 'coop' to glory|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|id={{ProQuest|119540258}}}}</ref>

In 1969, immediately after winning the Academy Award for ''Charly'', Robertson, a lifelong aviation enthusiast, attempted to produce and direct an aviation film, ''[[I Shot Down the Red Baron, I Think]]'', featuring World War I aerial combat, using [[Lynn Garrison]]'s Irish aviation facility. The comedic storyline portrayed the Red Baron as gay. The aircraft featured garish paint schemes. The film was never completed or released.

Robertson played [[Cole Younger]] in ''[[The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid]]'' (1972) and a pilot in ''[[Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies]]'' (1973). He appeared in the 1974 thriller ''[[Man on a Swing]]'' and the 1975 British drama ''[[Out of Season (1975 film)|Out of Season]]''.

===Later career===
Robertson returned to supporting parts in ''[[Three Days of the Condor]]'' (1975), which was a big hit. He played the lead in ''[[Obsession (1976 film)|Obsession]]'' (1976), a popular thriller from [[Brian De Palma]] and [[Paul Schrader]], and in the Canadian drama ''[[Shoot (film)|Shoot]]'' (1976). He was also one of several stars in ''[[Midway (1976 film)|Midway]]'' (1976).

Robertson turned to television for ''[[Washington: Behind Closed Doors]]'' (1977), then had the lead in a thriller, ''[[Dominique (1978 film)|Dominique]]'' (1978). He returned to directing for ''[[The Pilot (film)|The Pilot]]'' (1980), also playing the title role, an alcoholic flyer. Robertson played [[Hugh Hefner]] in ''[[Star 80]]'' (1983). He attempted to make ''Charly II'' in 1980 but it did not happen.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Bruce McCabe, G. S. |date=September 8, 1980|title=Cliff Robertson Bringing Charly Back to South Boston |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|id={{ProQuest|293973554}}}}</ref>

From the 1980s and 1990s onwards, Robertson was predominantly a character actor. He played villains in ''[[Class (film)|Class]]'' (1983) and ''[[Brainstorm (1983 film)|Brainstorm]]'' (1983). He did have the lead in ''[[Shaker Run]]'' (1985) in New Zealand, and ''[[Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story]]'' (1986) on TV.

In addition, he served as the company spokesperson for [[AT&T Corporation|AT&T]] from 1983 to 1992 and appeared in various commercials for their long-distance service and consumer telephones.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=The Los Angeles Times | date=April 19, 1993 | page=56 | last=Horovitz | first=Bruce | title=AT&T Appears Eager to Call Up a New Image | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-robertson-att/133314379/}}</ref>

He was a villain in ''[[Malone (1987 film)|Malone]]'' (1987), did ''[[Dead Reckoning (1990 film)|Dead Reckoning]]'' (1990) on TV and supported in ''[[Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken]]'' (1991), ''[[Wind (1992 film)|Wind]]'' (1991), ''[[Renaissance Man (film)|Renaissance Man]]'' (1994) and John Carpenter's ''[[Escape from L.A.]]'' (1996).

Late in his life, Robertson's career had a resurgence. He appeared as [[Uncle Ben|Uncle Ben Parker]] in [[Sam Raimi]]'s ''[[Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man]]'' (2002), as well as in the sequels ''[[Spider-Man 2]]'' (2004) and ''[[Spider-Man 3]]'' (2007; his last acting role). He commented on his website: "Since ''Spider-Man 1'' and ''2'', I seem to have a whole new generation of fans. That in itself is a fine residual."<ref>[http://www.cliffrobertson.info/career.htm "Cliff Robertson's Career Achievements"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006110034/http://cliffrobertson.info/career.htm |date=October 6, 2011 }}. Retrieved November 14, 2007.</ref> He also starred in and wrote ''[[13th Child]]'' (2002) and appeared in ''[[Riding the Bullet (film)|Riding the Bullet]]'' (2004), both horror films.

In 1989, he was a member of the jury at the [[39th Berlin International Film Festival]].<ref name="Berlinale">{{cite web|url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1989/04_jury_1989/04_Jury_1989.html|title=Berlinale: 1989 Juries|access-date=March 9, 2011|work=berlinale.de|archive-date=February 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215115859/https://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1989/04_jury_1989/04_Jury_1989.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Television===
[[File:Cliff Robertson Felicia Farr 1958.jpg|thumb|upright|Robertson and [[Felicia Farr]] in the ''[[Playhouse 90]]'' presentation of "Natchez"]]
Robertson's early television appearances included a starring role in the live [[space opera]] ''[[Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers]]'' (1953–1954), as well as recurring roles on ''[[Hallmark Hall of Fame]]'' (1952), ''[[Alcoa Theatre]]'' (1959), and ''[[Playhouse 90]]'' (1958, 1960), ''[[Outlaws (1960 TV series)|Outlaws]]'' (three episodes).  Robertson also appeared as a special guest star on ''Wagon Train'' for one episode, portraying an Irish immigrant.

In 1958, Robertson portrayed Joe Clay in the first broadcast of ''Playhouse 90'''s ''[[Days of Wine and Roses (1958 TV drama)|Days of Wine and Roses]]''. In 1960, he was cast as Martinus Van Der Brig, a con man, in the episode "End of a Dream" of ''[[Riverboat (TV series)|Riverboat]]''.

Other appearances included: "[[Wagon Train]]" (1958), ''[[The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]'' episodes "[[A Hundred Yards Over the Rim]]" (1961) and "[[The Dummy]]" (1962), followed by ''[[The Eleventh Hour (1962 TV series)|The Eleventh Hour]]'' in the 1963 episode "The Man Who Came Home Late". He guest-starred on such television series as ''[[The Greatest Show on Earth (TV series)|The Greatest Show on Earth]]'', ''[[Breaking Point (1963 TV series)|Breaking Point]]'' and ''[[ABC Stage 67]]''. He had starring roles in episodes of both the 1960s and 1990s versions of ''[[The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'', including "[[The Galaxy Being]]", the first episode of the original series. He was awarded an [[Emmy Award|Emmy]] for his leading role in a 1965 episode, "The Game" of ''[[Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre]]''. He appeared as a villain on five episodes of ABC's ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' series as the gunfighter "Shame" (1966 and 1968), the second time with his wife, [[Dina Merrill]], as "Calamity Jan".

In 1976, he portrayed a retired [[Buzz Aldrin]] in an adaptation of Aldrin's autobiography ''[[Return to Earth (film)|Return to Earth]]''. The next year, he portrayed a fictional [[Director of Central Intelligence]] (based on [[Richard Helms]]) in ''[[Washington: Behind Closed Doors]]'', an adaptation of [[John Ehrlichman]]'s [[roman à clef]] ''[[The Company (Ehrlichman novel)|The Company]]'', in turn based on the [[Watergate scandal]]. In 1987, he portrayed [[Henry Ford]] in ''Ford: The Man and The Machine''. From 1983 to 1984, he played Dr. Michael Ranson in ''[[Falcon Crest]]''. 

==Columbia Pictures embezzlement scandal==
In 1977, Robertson discovered that his signature had been forged on a $10,000 check payable to him, although it was for work he had not performed. He also learned that the forgery had been carried out by then-[[Columbia Pictures]] head [[David Begelman]], and on reporting it he inadvertently triggered one of the biggest Hollywood scandals of the 1970s.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cliff Robertson|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/film-obituaries/8756059/Cliff-Robertson.html|newspaper=The Telegraph|location=London|date=September 11, 2011|access-date=April 2, 2018|archive-date=May 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526205503/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/film-obituaries/8756059/Cliff-Robertson.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Begelman was charged with [[embezzlement]], convicted, and later fired from Columbia. Despite pressure to remain quiet, Robertson and his wife [[Dina Merrill]] spoke to the press. As a result of coming forward with the scandal, the studio blacklisted him and refused to make another film with him in it until 2002's ''[[Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Lee, G.|title=The Lonely Ordeal of Cliff Robertson.|date=March 28, 1980|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|162762482}}}}</ref>

He finally returned to studio film five years later, starring in ''[[Brainstorm (1983 film)|Brainstorm]]'' (1983).<ref name="yahoo"/><ref>McClintick, David. ''Indecent Exposure: A True Story of Hollywood and Wall Street'', [[William Morrow and Company]], 1982.</ref> The story of the scandal is told in David McClintick's 1982 bestseller, ''Indecent Exposure''.

==Personal life==
In 1957, Robertson married actress [[Cynthia Stone]], the former wife of actor [[Jack Lemmon]]. They had a daughter, Stephanie, before divorcing in 1959; he also had a stepson by this marriage, [[Chris Lemmon]]. In 1966, he married actress and [[Post Cereals]] heiress [[Dina Merrill]], the former wife of [[Stanley M. Rumbough Jr.]]; they had a daughter, Heather (1968–2007), before divorcing.<ref name="Times Obit"/> He resided in [[Water Mill, New York]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Career Achievements|url=http://www.cliffrobertson.info/career.htm|publisher=Official Website of Cliff Robertson|access-date=October 15, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006110034/http://cliffrobertson.info/career.htm|archive-date=October 6, 2011}}</ref>

Robertson was a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] and supported Arizona congressman [[Morris K. Udall]] during the 1976 Democratic presidential primaries.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep/10/local/la-me-cliff-robertson-20110911/2 |title=Cliff Robertson obituary: Oscar-winning actor | date=September 10, 2011 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=May 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522211306/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep/10/local/la-me-cliff-robertson-20110911/2 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Aviation===
A certified private pilot, one of Robertson's main hobbies was flying and, among other aircraft, he owned several [[de Havilland Tiger Moth]]s, a [[Messerschmitt Bf 108]], and a genuine World War II–era Mk. IX [[Supermarine Spitfire]] (MK923).<ref name=go-star>Hall, Bob. [http://www.go-star.com/antiquing/cliffrobertson.htm ''Southeastern Antiquing and Collecting Magazine''. Cliff Robertson Collects Vintage AircraftArticle on Robertson's private aviation collection] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041210075807/http://www.go-star.com/antiquing/cliffrobertson.htm |date=December 10, 2004 }}. 2004.</ref><ref>[http://www.airportjournals.com/Display.cfm?varID=0512003 ''First Cross-Country Soaring or (You Ain't John Wayne – Robertson)''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116195142/http://airportjournals.com/Display.cfm?varID=0512003 |date=November 16, 2010 }}</ref> His first plane flight was in a [[Lockheed Model 9 Orion]]. As a 13-year-old, he cleaned hangars for airplane rides. He met [[Paul Mantz]], [[Art Scholl]], and [[Charles Lindbergh]] while flying at local California airports.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Air Progress|date=December 1987|title=Real Airport Kids Never Grow Up|author=Gene Smith}}</ref> His piloting skills helped him get the part as the squadron leader in the British war film ''[[633 Squadron]]''. He entered balloon races, including one in 1964 from the mainland to [[Santa Catalina Island, California|Catalina Island]] that ended with him being rescued from the Pacific Ocean. He was also a [[Glider (aircraft)|glider]] pilot and owned a [[Grob G102 Astir|Grob Astir]].<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://nationalaviation.blade6.donet.com/components/content_manager_v02/view_nahf/htdocs/menu_ps.asp?NodeID=1271444555&group_ID=1134656385&Parent_ID=-1 
 |title=National Aviation Hall of Fame article on Cliff Robertson 
 |accessdate=September 26, 2006
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070618002300/http://nationalaviation.blade6.donet.com/components/content_manager_v02/view_nahf/htdocs/menu_ps.asp?NodeId=1271444555&Group_ID=1134656385&Parent_ID=-1 
 |archive-date=June 18, 2007 
}}</ref>

In 1969, during the [[Nigerian Civil War|civil war conflict in Nigeria]], Robertson helped organize an effort to fly food and medical supplies into the area. He also organized flights of supplies to the ravaged country of [[Ethiopia]] when it experienced famine in 1978.<ref name=go-star/>

Robertson was flying a private [[Beechcraft Baron]] over New York City on the morning of [[September 11 attacks|September 11, 2001]], two days after his 78th birthday. He was directly above the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]], climbing through 7,500 feet when the [[American Airlines Flight 11|first Boeing 767]] struck. He was instructed by air traffic control to land immediately at the nearest airport after a nationwide order to ground all civilian and commercial aircraft following the attacks.<ref>[http://www.cliffrobertson.info/aviation2.htm ''Official Cliff Robertson site''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002115148/http://www.cliffrobertson.info/aviation2.htm |date=October 2, 2011 }}</ref>

====Young Eagles====
He was a longtime member of the [[Experimental Aircraft Association]] (EAA), working his way through the ranks in prominence and eventually co-founding the [[Young Eagles|Young Eagles Program]] with EAA president [[Tom Poberezny]]. Robertson chaired the program from its 1992 inception to 1994 (succeeded by former test pilot [[Chuck Yeager]]). Along with educating youth about aviation, the initial goal of the Young Eagles was to fly one million children (many of them never having flown before) prior to the 100th Anniversary of Flight celebration on December 17, 2003. That goal was achieved on November 13, 2003. On July 28, 2016, the two millionth Young Eagle was flown by actor [[Harrison Ford]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Harrison Ford Flies 2 Millionth Young Eagle|url=http://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/eaa-airventure-news-and-multimedia/eaa-airventure-news/eaa-airventure-oshkosh/07-27-2016-2-millionth-young-eagle-flies-today|access-date=August 25, 2016|archive-date=August 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820123829/http://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/eaa-airventure-news-and-multimedia/eaa-airventure-news/eaa-airventure-oshkosh/07-27-2016-2-millionth-young-eagle-flies-today|url-status=live}}</ref>   Within the EAA, he also founded the Cliff Robertson Work Experience in 1993, which offers youths the chance to work for flight and ground school instruction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/aviation-education-and-resources/eaa-youth-education/eaa-internships-and-work-study-programs/eaa-air-academy-internships/cliff-robertson-work-experience-for-ages-16-17|title=Cliff Robertson Work Experience|access-date=March 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312052332/https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/aviation-education-and-resources/eaa-youth-education/eaa-internships-and-work-study-programs/eaa-air-academy-internships/cliff-robertson-work-experience-for-ages-16-17|archive-date=March 12, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Death==
On September 10, 2011, one day after his 88th birthday, Robertson died of natural causes in [[Stony Brook, New York]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/cliff-robertson-played-jfk-pt-109-dies-021234437.html |title=Cliff Robertson, who played JFK in 'PT-109', dies |publisher=Yahoo! News |date=September 11, 2011 |access-date=November 25, 2011 |archive-date=December 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111217131432/http://news.yahoo.com/cliff-robertson-played-jfk-pt-109-dies-021234437.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=US film actor Cliff Robertson dies aged 88|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14869693|publisher=BBC|access-date=September 11, 2011|date=September 11, 2011|archive-date=September 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911171549/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14869693|url-status=live}}</ref> His body was cremated, and a private funeral was held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in [[East Hampton, New York]] and was interred at the [[Cedar Lawn Cemetery]].

==Filmography==
{| class=wikitable
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|1943
| ''[[We've Never Been Licked]]'' 
| Adams
| Uncredited
|-
| ''[[Corvette K-225]]'' 
| Lookout
| Uncredited 
|-
| 1955
| ''[[Picnic (1955 film)|Picnic]]'' 
| Alan Benson 
|
|-
| 1956
| ''[[Autumn Leaves (film)|Autumn Leaves]]'' 
| Burt Hanson 
|
|-
|rowspan=3|1958 
| ''[[The Girl Most Likely]]'' 
| Pete 
| last film made by [[RKO Pictures|RKO Studios]]
|-
| ''[[The Naked and the Dead (film)|The Naked and the Dead]]'' 
| Lieutenant Robert Hearn 
|
|-
| ''[[Days of Wine and Roses (1958 TV drama)|Days of Wine and Roses]]''
| Joe Clay
| Part of the ''[[Playhouse 90]]'' anthology series
|-
|rowspan=4|1959 
| ''[[Gidget (film)|Gidget]]'' 
| 'The Big Kahuna' 
|
|-
| ''[[Battle of the Coral Sea (film)|Battle of the Coral Sea]]'' 
| Lieutenant Commander Jeff Conway 
|
|-
| ''[[As the Sea Rages]]'' 
| Clements 
|
|-
| ''[[The Untouchables (1959 TV series)|The Untouchables]]''
| Frank Holloway
| Episode: "[[The Underground Railway]]" (Season 1, Episode 12)
|-
| 1960
| ''[[Riverboat (TV series)|Riverboat]]''
| Martinus Van Der Brig
| Episode: "End of a Dream" ([[NBC-TV]])
|-
| rowspan=4 | 1961 
| ''[[The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]''
| Christian Horn Sr. 
| Episode: "[[A Hundred Yards Over the Rim]]"
|-
| ''[[All in a Night's Work (film)|All in a Night's Work]]'' 
| Warren Kingsley Jr. 
|
|-
| ''[[Underworld U.S.A.]]'' 
| 'Tolly' Devlin 
|
|-
| ''[[The Big Show (1961 film)|The Big Show]]'' 
| Josef Everard 
|
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1962 
| ''[[The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]''
|  Jerry Etherson
| Episode: "[[The Dummy]]"
|-
| ''[[The Interns (film)|The Interns]]'' 
| Dr. John Paul Otis 
|
|-
| rowspan=4 | 1963 
| ''[[My Six Loves]]'' 
| Reverend Jim Larkin 
|
|-
| ''[[PT 109 (film)|PT 109]]'' 
| [[John F. Kennedy|Lt. (j.g.) John F. Kennedy]] 
|
|-
| ''[[The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]''
| Alan Maxwell
| Episode: "[[The Galaxy Being]]" (Season 1, Episode 1)
|-
| ''[[Sunday in New York]]'' 
| Adam Tyler 
|
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1964 
| ''[[The Best Man (1964 film)|The Best Man]]'' 
| Joe Cantwell 
|
|-
| ''[[633 Squadron]]'' 
| Wing Commander Roy Grant 
|
|-
| rowspan=3 | 1965
| ''[[Love Has Many Faces]]'' 
| Pete Jordon 
|
|-
| ''[[Masquerade (1965 film)|Masquerade]]'' 
| David Frazer 
|
|-
| ''[[Up from the Beach]]'' 
| Sergeant Edward Baxter 
|
|-
| 1966, 1968
| ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]''
| 'Shame'
| Episodes: Come Back, Shame/It's How You Play the Game, The Great Escape/The Great Train Robbery
|-
| 1967 
| ''[[The Honey Pot]]'' 
| William McFly 
|
|-
| rowspan=2| 1968 
| ''[[The Devil's Brigade (film)|The Devil's Brigade]]'' 
| Major Alan Crown 
|
|-
| ''[[Charly (1968 film)|Charly]]'' 
| Charlie Gordon
| [[Academy Award for Best Actor]]<br/>[[National Board of Review Award for Best Actor]]<br/>Nominated—[[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama]]<br />Nominated—[[Laurel Awards|Laurel Award for Best Male Dramatic Performance]]
|-
| 1970 
| ''[[Too Late the Hero (film)|Too Late the Hero]]'' 
| Lieutenant Sam Lawson 
|
|-
| 1971
| ''[[J. W. Coop]]'' 
| J.W. Coop 
|Also director, co-producer and co-writer
|-
| 1972
| ''[[The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid]]'' 
| [[Cole Younger]] 
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1973 
| ''The Men Who Made the Movies: Alfred Hitchcock'' 
| Narrator 
|
|-
| ''[[Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies]]'' 
| Eli 'Ace' Walford 
|
|-
|''The Man Without a Country''
|Philip Nolan
|Made-for-television drama produced by [[Norman Rosemont]]
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1974 
| ''[[Man on a Swing]]'' 
| Lee Tucker 
|
|-
| ''[[A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1974 film)|A Tree Grows in Brooklyn]]''
| Johnny Nolan
|Made-for-television drama produced by Norman Rosemont
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1975 
| ''[[Out of Season (1975 film)|Out of Season]]''
| Joe Tanner 
| Entered into the [[25th Berlin International Film Festival]]
|-
| ''[[Three Days of the Condor]]'' 
| J. Higgins 
|
|-
| rowspan=4 | 1976 
| ''[[Return to Earth (film)|Return to Earth]]'' 
| [[Buzz Aldrin]]
|
|-
| ''[[Shoot (film)|Shoot]]'' 
| Rex 
|
|-
| ''[[Midway (1976 film)|Midway]]'' 
| Commander Carl Jessop 
|
|-
| ''[[Obsession (1976 film)|Obsession]]'' 
| Michael Courtland 
|
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1977 
| ''[[Fraternity Row (film)|Fraternity Row]]'' 
| Narrator 
|
|-
| ''[[Washington: Behind Closed Doors]]'' 
| William Martin
| Adaptation of ''[[The Company (Ehrlichman novel)|The Company]]''; character based on [[Richard Helms]]
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1979 
| ''[[List of The Little Prince adaptations#Film and television|The Little Prince]]''<br/>''Martin The Cobbler''<br/>''Rip Van Wynkle''<br/>''The Diary of Adam and Eve'' 
| Host; The pilot (''Little Prince'') 
| Package of [[Claymation]] shorts by [[Will Vinton]]
|-
| ''[[Dominique (1978 film)|Dominique]]'' 
| David Ballard 
|
|-
| 1980
| ''[[The Pilot (film)|The Pilot]]'' 
| Mike Hagan 
| 
|-
| 1982
| ''[[Two of a Kind (1982 film)|Two of a Kind]]'' 
| Frank Minor
| 
|-
| rowspan=4 | 1983 
| ''[[Falcon Crest]]''
| Dr. Michael Ranson 
| Season 3 
|-
| ''[[Star 80]]'' 
| [[Hugh Hefner]] 
|
|-
| ''[[Class (film)|Class]]'' 
| Mr. Burroughs 
|
|-
| ''[[Brainstorm (1983 film)|Brainstorm]]'' 
| Alex Terson 
|
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1985 
| ''[[The Key to Rebecca]]''
| Major William Vandam
| TV movie
|-
| ''[[Shaker Run]]'' 
| Judd Pierson 
|
|-
| 1986 
| ''[[Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story]]'' 
| [[Mel Fisher]]
|
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1987 
| ''[[Malone (1987)|Malone]]'' 
| Charles Delaney 
|
|-
| ''[[Ford: The Man and the Machine]]'' 
| [[Henry Ford]] 
|
|-
| 1990 
| ''[[Dead Reckoning (TV Movie)|Dead Reckoning]]'' 
| Daniel Barnard 
| TV movie
|-
| 1991 
| ''[[Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken]]'' 
| Dr. Carver 
|
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1992 
| ''[[Wind (1992 film)|Wind]]'' 
| Morgan Weld 
|
|-
| ''The Ghosts of '87'' 
| Host 
|
|-
| 1994 
| ''[[Renaissance Man (film)|Renaissance Man]]'' 
| Colonel James 
|
|-
| 1995 
| ''Waiting for Sunset'' or ''The Sunset Boys'' (''[[Pakten (film)|Pakten]]'')
| Ted Roth 
|
|-
| 1996 
| ''[[Escape from L.A.]]'' 
| President Adam 
|
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1998 
| ''[[Melting Pot (film)|Melting Pot]]'' 
| Jack Durman 
|
|-
| ''{{ill|Assignment Berlin|de|Babyhandel Berlin – Jenseits aller Skrupel}}'' 
| Cliff Garret 
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1999 
| ''[[Family Tree (1999 film)|Family Tree]]'' 
| Larry 
|
|-
| ''[[The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]''
| Theodore Harris
| Episode: "[[Joyride (The Outer Limits)|Joyride]]"
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2001
| ''[[Falcon Down]]'' 
| 'Buzz' Thomas 
|
|-
| ''[[Mach 2 (film)|Mach 2]]'' 
| Vice President Pike 
|
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2002 
| ''[[Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man]]'' 
| [[Uncle Ben|Ben Parker]] 
|
|-
| ''[[13th Child]]'' 
| Mr. Shroud 
| Robertson was one of the writers of this film
|-
| 2003 
| ''[[The Lyon's Den]]'' 
| Hal Malloy 
| 4 episodes
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2004 
| ''[[Spider-Man 2]]'' 
| Ben Parker 
| [[Cameo appearance|Cameo]]
|-
| ''[[Riding the Bullet (film)|Riding the Bullet]]'' 
| Farmer 
|
|-
| 2007 
| ''[[Spider-Man 3]]'' 
| rowspan=3 | Ben Parker 
| Cameo (final acting role)
|-
| 2018
| ''[[Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse]]'' 
| Archival audio
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse]]''
| Archival footage from ''[[Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man]]''
|}

== Awards ==
Robertson was inducted into the [[National Aviation Hall of Fame]] in 2006. He received the Rebecca Rice Alumni Award from Antioch College in 2007. In addition to his [[Oscar Award|Oscar]] and [[Emmy Award|Emmy]] and several lifetime achievement awards from various [[film festival]]s,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sdff.org/awardwinners.html|title=Award Winners|date=August 28, 2010|access-date=September 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828232339/http://www.sdff.org/awardwinners.html|archive-date=August 28, 2010}}</ref> Robertson has a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] at 6801 [[Hollywood Boulevard|Hollywood Blvd]]. He was also awarded the 2008 Ambassador of Good Will Aviation Award by the [[National Transportation Safety Board]] (NTSB) Bar Association in [[Alexandria, Virginia]], for his leadership in and promotion of [[general aviation]]. In 2009, Robertson was inducted into the [[International Air & Space Hall of Fame]] at the [[San Diego Air & Space Museum]],<ref>Sprekelmeyer, Linda, editor. ''These We Honor: The International Aerospace Hall of Fame''. Donning Co. Publishers, 2006. {{ISBN|978-1-57864-397-4}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergqvist |first=Pia |date=2011-09-13 |title=Legendary Actor and Aviator Cliff Robertson Dies at 88 |url=https://www.flyingmag.com/news-legendary-actor-and-aviator-cliff-robertson-dies-88/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=FLYING Magazine |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-09-15 |title=Cliff Robertson's La Jolla roots went deep |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2011/09/15/cliff-robertsons-la-jolla-roots-went-deep/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> and was part of the [[Living Legends of Aviation]].

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{IMDb name|731772}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{Tcmdb name}}
* [http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/cliff-robertson Interview in the Archive of American Television]
* [http://www.warbirdregistry.org/spitregistry/spitfire-mk923.html Warbird Registry entry on MK923]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120130054915/http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/Cliff-Robertson-1923-2011-An-Award-Winning-Merican-Actor--138261199.html "Cliff Robertson, 1923–2011: Actor, Writer, Producer and Director"], a [[Special English]] presentation of [[Voice of America]]
* [http://www.nationalaviation.org/robertson-cliff/ Biography] in the [[National Aviation Hall of Fame]]

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Cliff Robertson
|list =
{{Academy Award Best Actor}}
{{EmmyAward MiniseriesLeadActor}}
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Actor}}
}}

{{Portal bar|Biography|California|New York (state)|Theatre|Film|Television|Aviation}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robertson, Cliff}}
[[Category:1923 births]]
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[[Category:20th-century American Episcopalians]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American aviators]]
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[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
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[[Category:American military personnel of World War II]]
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[[Category:Antioch College alumni]]
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[[Category:United States Merchant Mariners]]
[[Category:United States Merchant Mariners of World War II]]
[[Category:Members of The Lambs Club]]