Robert Clarke

Robert Clarke made a mark in Hollywood by appearing in (and writing, directing, and producing) B science fiction movies such as The Man from Planet X, Captive Women, Sword of Venus, The Astounding She-Monster, The Incredible Petrified World, Beyond the Time Barrier, and The Brotherhood of the Bell. His cult movie The Hideous Sun Demon was featured in the 1982 movie It Came from Hollywood, which starred Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Gilda Radner, Cheech Marin, and Tommy Chong.

He appeared in a few Westerns and also appeared in comedy sketches and sentimental readings with The King Family Show after his marriage to Alyce King. He had small roles in other television shows such as Perry Mason, The Lone Ranger, 77 Sunset Strip, General Hospital, Dragnet, Sea Hunt, Daktari, Hawaii Five-O, Fantasy Island, Dallas, Matt Houston, Falcon Crest, and Murder, She Wrote, among others.

He was born on June 1, 1920, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and his love of movies as a kid prompted him to act in University of Oklahoma radio plays and on stage at the University of Wisconsin before he relocated to California. He was a contracted actor with RKO for three years and had roles in The Falcon in Hollywood, The Body Snatcher, Bedlam, and Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome.

Clarke’s autobiography To “B” or Not to “B”: A Film Actor’s Odyssey was published in 1996.

He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and passed away on June 11, 2005. He is the father of one son, Cam Clarke, who is a voice artist and actor, and two step-sons, one of whom is composer Lex de Azevedo.