Posted on 02/28/2013 5:41:55 AM PST by KeyLargo
Dale Robertson leaves legacy of classic Western TV shows
Ken Miller, Associated Press / February 28, 2013
Dale Robertson started in the movies, including such roles as Jesse James in "Fighting Man of the Plains. Dale Robertson moved into television, starring in series such as "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957-62), "Iron Horse" (1966) and "Death Valley Days" (1968-70). Robertson died Tuesday.
By Ken Miller, Associated Press / February 28, 2013
Actor Dale Robertson in 1964. Robterson became a star of television and movie Westerns during the genre's heyday, died Feb. 26, 2013.
Robertson's niece, Nancy Robertson, said her uncle died at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, Calif., following a brief illness.
Dale Robertson had bit parts in films including "The Boy with the Green Hair" and the Joan Crawford vehicle "Flamingo Road" before landing more high-profile roles such as Jesse James in "Fighting Man of the Plains."
In the 1950s, he moved into television, starring in series such as "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957-62), "Iron Horse" (1966) and "Death Valley Days" (1968-70).
Robertson continued to work in TV in the 1970s, and in the 1980s he landed roles in the popular night-time soap operas "Dallas" and "Dynasty."
In 1993, he took what would be his final role, as Zeke in the show "Harts of the West," before retiring from acting to spend more time at his ranch in Yukon, Okla., where he lived until moving to the San Diego area in recent months, Nancy Robertson said.
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
"He joined the U.S. Army and fought in North Africa and Europe during World War II. Robertson was wounded twice and awarded the Bronze and Silver Stars and the Purple Heart."
"Robertson received the Golden Boot Award in 1985, and was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers and the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City."
Dale Robertson: Actor & Wounded Combat Veteran
By Major Van Harl, USAF Ret.
After the capture of Düsseldorf the 97th was sent to the border of Czechoslovakia to liberate the city of Cheb and get the military factories in that city out of the hands of the Germans. The biggest problem for the 322nd Combat Engineers was the minefields that had to be cleared before the infantry and tanks could move forward. 2Lt. Robertson’s platoon fought alongside the infantry in order to advance, to remove the mines.
During this operation they were under 88mm artillery fire and Dale Robertson told me he was wounded by shrapnel. I asked him about receiving the Purple Heart. He told me he dressed his own wounds and got on with the mission. He never reported to a military medical unit. With no official record, you get no official recognition. (Note the contrast with the extremely minor shrapnel wound insistently reported by now Massachusetts Senator John Kerry during the Vietnam War that got him sent home before his tour of duty was completed. -Ed.)
The Army tried to recall him during the Korean War. When they did a physical, injures were then made known to the military and he was deemed not qualified for active service. Like most WW II veterans, Dale Robertson got on with his life after the war. He just happened to do it on Hollywood’s silver screens.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/combat_vet.htm
Hollywood WWII Army Vet dies
A lefty? Where did you get that notion? It tends to wildly conflict with what I’ve always heard. I met him a couple of times, and although the topic of politics never cropped up, he certainly didn’t come across that way, to put it mildly.
I think he means left-handed.
NO!No No He was a left handed gun!!!!
Ah, that might make a little more sense. Anyway, for those interested, a lot of Robertson’s “Wells Fargo” series is available on dvd. There was talk of “Iron Horse” coming out last year, but it apparently got delayed.
Always liked Robertson. There was an easy-going, mid-American quality about him and his performances.
“Now, let’s return to those days of yesteryear...”
Yes, as far as I know Dale Robertson never claimed anything publicaly about politics, unlike the Hollywierdos of today.
Robertson was mostly known for his television career but also starred in a total of 63 films, is a recipient of the Golden Boot Award in 1985 and has a star on the Hollywood walk of Fame. He was also inducted into the hall of Great Western Performers and the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. Robertson has since retired from acting and lives on a ranch near Oklahoma City. with his current wife whom he married in 1980, Susie Robertson. - See more at: http://matineeclassics.com/celebrities/actors/dale_robertson/details/#sthash.h8GAM2mm.dpuf
During his acting career he appeared in 63 feature films and several television series, but he was best-known for portraying special agent Jim Hardie, TV’s fastest left-handed gun, on NBC’s highly rated Western series “Tales of Wells Fargo,” which ran from March 1957 to September 1961.
His many roles in Western films and TV productions earned him induction into the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s Hall of Great Western Performers in 1983.
“Dale obviously had a wonderful career in film and was a very popular Western actor,” museum President Chuck Schroeder said. “But beyond that, when you get to know some of Dale’s friends, you start to understand what an influence Dale was on others. He was a guy who was very generous in helping other people get started in the movie business. He was generous to people who were down on their luck. He was a guy who really cared about his fellow man, and not only cared about them but invested himself in helping other people.
Click here to read the complete article at NewsOK.com
Thanks for the ping. I saw some of his movies, but didn’t remember his name.
How sad. I join in prayer for all the loved ones, God’s blessing, peace and guidance as they deal with his homegoing.
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