Robert Young (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robert Young
Young in 1957
Born	Robert George Young (1907-02-22)February 22, 1907 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	July 21, 1998(1998-07-21) (aged 91) Westlake Village, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1927–1988
Spouse(s)	Betty Henderson ​ ​ (m. 1933; died 1994)​
Children	4

Robert George Young (born February 22, 1907 – died July 21, 1998) was an American actor. He was famous for his main roles as Jim Anderson, the father, in the TV show Father Knows Best. He also played Dr. Marcus Welby in Marcus Welby, M.D..

Robert Young's Early Life

Robert Young was born in Chicago, Illinois. His father was from Ireland, and his mother was American. When Robert was a child, his family moved around a lot. They lived in places like Seattle and Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, he went to Abraham Lincoln High School.

After high school, Robert studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse. He also worked many small jobs and appeared in tiny roles in silent movies. A talent scout from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) saw him perform. This led to Robert signing a contract with the studio. His first movie with sound was Black Camel in 1931.

Robert Young's Film Career

Robert Young acted in over 100 movies between 1928 and 1952. Even though he wasn't always given the biggest roles, he worked with famous actresses. Some of these included Katharine Hepburn and Joan Crawford. Many of his early movies were "B movies." These were shorter films that were made quickly. Actors like Young often made six to eight movies a year.

As an actor under contract with MGM, Robert had to take any film role they gave him. If he refused, he could be stopped from working and earning money. In 1936, MGM sent him to England for two films. One was Secret Agent, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The other was It's Love Again.

Later in his MGM career, he got a very good role in H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941). He once said that he usually got roles that other top actors didn't want.

After his contract with MGM ended, Young acted in comedies and dramas for other studios. From 1943, he took on more challenging roles. These included movies like Claudia and Crossfire. In these films, he sometimes played characters who were not so nice. Critics liked his performances in these different roles.

In 1949, he briefly returned to MGM for That Forsyte Woman. His last feature film was Secret of the Incas (1954). This movie starred Charlton Heston and was filmed in Machu Picchu. Even though it was a good movie, Robert Young's film career slowly came to an end. However, he soon found new success on television.

Robert Young's Television Career

Today, many people remember Robert Young as the friendly insurance salesman, Jim Anderson. He played this role in the popular TV show Father Knows Best. The show was on radio from 1949 to 1954 and on television from 1954 to 1960. Robert Young and his co-star Jane Wyatt won several Emmy Awards for their work on the show. Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, and Lauren Chapin played the Anderson children.

After Father Knows Best, Young created and starred in the CBS comedy series Window on Main Street (1961–1962).

Robert Young's last TV series was Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969–1976). In this show, he played a doctor and starred alongside a young James Brolin. This role also earned Young an Emmy Award for best leading actor in a drama series.

He also appeared on The Dick Cavett Show with Jimi Hendrix in 1969. Until 1982, he was in many TV commercials for Sanka coffee.

You might have heard the phrase "I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV." Many people think Robert Young said this because of his role as Dr. Welby. But it was actually said by other actors in commercials for cough medicine.

Robert Young's Personal Life and Death

Robert Young was married to Betty Henderson for 61 years. They were married from 1933 until her death in 1994. They had four daughters: Carol, Barbara, Kathy, and Betty Lou. They also had many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Even though he often played happy characters, Robert Young faced personal struggles. He suffered from sadness and spoke openly about his problems. He wanted to help others seek support. A mental health center in Illinois, the Robert Young Community Mental Health Center, is named after him. This honors his work to support mental health programs in his home state.

Robert Young passed away at his home in Westlake Village, California, on July 21, 1998.

He has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. These stars honor his work in film, television, and radio.

Robert Young's Filmography

Robert Young's Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Robert Young para niños