R.G. Armstrong

Robert Golden Armstrong ("Bob" to his friends) was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on April 7, 1917. Armstrong attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he frequently performed on stage with the Carolina Playmakers. After graduation, Armstrong headed to New York and joined the Actor's Studio. In 1953, along with many of his Actor's Studio buddies, he was part of the cast of "End As a Man" -- this became the first play to go from Off-Broadway to Broadway. The following year, he got his first taste of movies, appearing in _Garden of Eden (1954)_ . In 1955 he returned to Broadway and received great reviews for his portrayal of Big Daddy in the Broadway production of Cat On a Hot Tin Roof. In 1958, he moved to Hollywood -- he appeared in 2 movies, a TV series, and did numerous guest appearances on TV shows that year, usually Westerns such as The Rifleman, Have Gun, Will Travel and Zane Grey Theater among others. Armstrong would eventually appear in 80 movies and 3 TV series in his career, and guest starred in 90 TV series, often in Westerns, often as a tough sheriff, or a rugged land baron. He was a regular cast member in the TV series T.H.E. Cat (1966): he portrayed the tough, one-handed Captain MacAllister. Even though Armstrong had a long and versatile career, the younger generation of TV viewers know him primarily as spooky Lewis Vandredi (pronounced VON-drah-dee), who just wouldn't let the main characters have a good night's sleep on the ' (1987) TV Series. He retired six successful decades in show business -- his last film appearance was Purgatory (1999) (TV) -- and lives in California with his wife Mary.

Related Topics:
Birmingham, Alabama - April 7 - 1917 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Carolina Playmakers - New York - Actor's Studio - 1953 - Off-Broadway - Broadway - 1955 - Cat On a Hot Tin Roof - The Rifleman - Have Gun, Will Travel - Zane Grey Theater - T.H.E. Cat - California

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~