Cliff Robertson is a talented actor who has managed to play in about a hundred film and television projects in his long life. To the audience, he is most remembered for the series of films about Spider-Man, in which he played the role of Ben Parker. Dramas, thrillers, comedies - Cliff looked organically in any genre. What is the history of the star?
Cliff Robertson: the beginning of the journey
The performer of the role of Ben Parker was born in California, it happened in September 1923. Cliff Robertson was born into a family far from the world of cinema. Already in childhood, the boy stood out from the crowd of his peers, he liked to attract attention to himself. His classmates nicknamed him the Rogue Phoenix.
Interest in the acting profession, Robertson did not show immediately. As a child, Cliff dreamed of becoming a famous journalist. For a while, he tried to develop in this direction, until, by the will of fate, he ended up on the set.
First roles
Cliff Robertson, like many of his colleagues, began his path to fame with episodic roles. The first films andTV projects with his participation are listed below:
- Kraft Television Theater.
- "Filco TV Theatre".
- "Robert Montgomery Presents".
- Armstrong Theatre.
- Luxury Video Theatre.
- "General Electric Theater"
- The Steel Hour of the United States.
- Picnic.
- "Autumn Leaves".
- Wagon caravan.
- Alcoa Theatre.
- "Most Suitable Girl"
- The Naked and the Dead.
- "Westinghouse - Desile Theatre".
- Gidget.
- Riverboat.
- The Twilight Zone.
- The Untouchables.
- "Battle of the Coral Sea".
- "All work for one night".
- "The Big Show".
- "Ben Casey".
- "Interns".
- "The Eleventh Hour".
The first roles did not bring fame to Robertson, however, they allowed him to gain valuable experience and believe in his talent.
From obscurity to fame
For the first time, Cliff Robertson managed to attract public attention already in 1963. The military-biographical drama "RT 109" was presented to the audience court, in which the actor played a key role. The film tells about the young years of President John F. Kennedy, or rather, about the time when he commanded the PT-109 torpedo boat with the rank of lieutenant. Events unfold during the Second World War.
Cliff had a chance to try on the role of Kennedy again in 1964. It was then that the picture “The Most Worthy” saw the light, in whichRobertson played no longer a young lieutenant, but a candidate for the presidency of the United States.
The film "Charlie" helped actor Cliff Robertson consolidate his success. The fantasy drama was presented to the audience in 1968 and was an incredible success. In this picture, Cliff convincingly played Charlie Gordon. His character has the brain of a child and the body of an adult. As a result of the experimental operation, the character's brain begins to actively develop, which is where the fun begins.
Spider-Man Movies
What other films with Cliff Robertson are worthy of the attention of his fans? Many viewers remember Robertson thanks to the Spider-Man film series. In this fantastic story, the actor plays the role of Benjamin Parker, Peter Parker's uncle. His hero is an elderly man who touchingly takes care of his nephew. The character tragically dies at the hands of robbers. It is the advice that Uncle Ben gives Peter before his death that makes him subsequently set foot on the path of a defender of humanity.
Cliff can also be seen in the second and third parts of the Spider-Man story. In the second part, he appears in the memories of his nephew. In the third, Peter Parker undertakes to investigate the mysterious death of Uncle Ben. It turns out that the hero's killer is not at all the person who was accused of this crime.
Private life
What is known about the personal life of the man who played Ben Parker? During his life, the actor entered into a legal marriage twice. Both times his chosen onesbecame colleagues. The union with Cynthia Stone lasted no more than three years, even the birth of a daughter did not save the family. With Dina Merrill Robertson lived a little over twenty years. The second wife also gave him a daughter, Heather, who died of cancer in 2007. The marriage with Dina broke up in 1989. The actor did not marry for the third time.
Death
Of course, fans are also interested in the cause of death of Cliff Robertson. The talented actor, star of the Spider-Man films, passed away on September 10, 2011. Death overtook him in his own house in New York. The day before his death, the actor turned 88 years old. Cause of death is natural.
Spider-Man 3: Reflected Enemy is Cliff's latest film.
