Biography
Robert Rae Cornthwaite (April 28, 1917 β July 20, 2006) was an American film and television character actor. Cornthwaite was born in Saint Helens, Oregon on April 28, 1917. His interest in acting began in his early teens, when he was forced to recite one line in a school play. He began his acting career in 1937, appearing in a college production of Twelfth Night, while attending Reed College in Portland, Oregon.In the late 1930s, he enrolled in Long Beach City College and worked at radio stations in Southern California. He earned a degree from the University of Southern California after serving as an intelligence officer in the Army Air Force during World War II.Cornthwaite began his time in the US Army Air Force as a radio-gunner in B-25 aircraft as part of the 12th Medium Bombardment Group in 1942. He then served as a radio operator and superintendent of the watch with the 79th Fighter Group from 1943-1944. This was followed by serving as a writer and broadcaster with the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces from 1944 until 1945. In this position he performed Public Relations duties in Naples, Rome, Corsica, and other locations in the Mediterranean area. While on Corsica, Cornthwaite worked on his first film which was for the Free French Air Force. He acted as a writer and sound engineer recording Capitaine Eve Curie (daughter of Marie and Pierre Curie) of the Free French Air Force. He did the commentary in French and English. Cornthwaite also dubbed the voice of American Air Force General Ira Eaker who did not speak French.In 1951, Cornthwaite was cast in Howard Hawks's production of The Thing from Another World. His character, Dr. Carrington, the unofficial leader of an Arctic polar expedition, observes the nearby crash of an unidentified flying object, and urges his military counterparts to communicate with the creature inside, even at the cost of their own lives. This performance eventually earned him entry into the "Science Fiction Hall of Fame" in 1993.
Other notable films include The War of the Worlds, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Colossus: The Forbin Project and the Joe Dante production of Matinee, in which he shared screen time with fellow 1950s screen notables, William Schallert and Kevin McCarthy in the "film within a film", "MANT", a spoof of sci-fi films. Similarly, Cornthwaite appeared as Dr. Carrington opposite Ken Tobey (again as Hendry) in a spoof titled Attack of the B Movie Monster, shot in 1984. Expanded and retitled The Naked Monster, it was released on DVD in 2005 by Anthem Pictures.
Filmography
all 56
Movies 42
TV Shows 14
self 1
Voice 1
The Primevals (2023)
The Sky Is Falling: Making 'The War of the Worlds' (2005)
The Naked Monster (2005)
Dead Man's Revenge (1994)
Matinee (1993)
Frame Up (1991)
Time Trackers (1989)
Murder, She Wrote (1984)
Doctor Detroit (1983)
The Day the Bubble Burst (1982)
Beggarman, Thief (1979)
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979)
Love's Savage Fury (1979)
Futureworld (1976)
Crackle of Death (1976)
Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974)
The Six Million Dollar Man (1973)
The Devil's Daughter (1973)
The Longest Night (1972)
Journey Through Rosebud (1972)
Killer by Night (1972)
Two on a Bench (1971)
The Peace Killers (1971)
Environment (1971)
Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)
Mayberry R.F.D. (1968)
Land of the Giants (1968)
Waterhole #3 (1967)
The Ride to Hangman's Tree (1967)
The Ghost & Mr. Chicken (1966)
Batman (1966)
Channing (1963)
The Fugitive (1963)
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962)
The Andy Griffith Show (1960)
The Twilight Zone (1959)
Day of the Outlaw (1959)
Ten Seconds to Hell (1959)
Destination Space (1959)
Rescue 8 (1958)
The Power of the Resurrection (1958)
The Saga of Andy Burnett (1957)
Perry Mason (1957)
Hell on Devil's Island (1957)
The Leather Saint (1956)
The Purple Mask (1955)
Stranger on Horseback (1955)
Day of Triumph (1954)
The War of the Worlds (1953)
Four Star Playhouse (1952)
Monkey Business (1952)
Something to Live For (1952)
The Thing from Another World (1951)
Gambling House (1950)
Union Station (1950)
Ratings
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Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1917-04-28
Deathday2006-07-20 (89 years old)
Birth PlaceColumbia County, United States of America
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
Also Known AsBob Cornthwaite
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